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Yemen

Statement of the Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen, Jamie McGoldrick, on the Intensification of Violence across Yemen [EN/AR]

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Sana'a, 12 August 2016 - The Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen is deeply alarmed by the intensification of violence across the country. Local media reports indicate that children and women are being killed and maimed, homes being destroyed, and a food factory and a market damaged or destroyed by both ground fighting and air strikes, particularly in Sana’a city and the Governorates of Sana’a, Sa’ada, Taizz, and Al Hudaydah.

The people of Yemen continue to bear the brunt of the suffering as a result of the inability of the parties to find a political solution to a conflict that has been raging for more than a year and a half. The return to full-scale hostilities only drives humanitarian needs further. The depletion of foreign currency reserves in the Central Bank has resulted in the difficulty for importers to obtain lines of credit making it nearly impossible for Government entities to maintain basic social services. For example, there are 40,000 cancer patients nationwide who will no longer receive the medication they require due to banking restrictions impeding their import. Humanitarians have been called on, once again, to fill the gap in the provision of basic social services, increasing the need for greater resources from the international community.

The Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen calls on all parties to the conflict to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law and to take all necessary actions to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure in their conduct of hostilities. The humanitarian community also demands that the parties facilitate safe, unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access to people in need as well as the voluntary movement of civilians to reach humanitarian assistance.

He urges the international community to exercise its influence over the parties to bring about an early and peaceful solution that puts the Yemeni people at the centre, something that all Yemenis deserve. A political solution is the only solution to this crisis.

For further information, please contact:
George Khoury, Head of OCHA Yemen, khouryg@un.org, Tel +967 712 222 207
Ahmed Ben Lassoued, Public Information Officer, benlassoued@un.org, Tel. +962 79 7050 736
Federica D' Andreagiovanni, Head of Communication, dandreagiovannif@un.org, Tel. +962 79 6137 336
OCHA press releases are available at www.unocha.org or www.reliefweb.int.

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