I. HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES

• A UN agency warned that 750,000 children under the age of five are suffering from malnutrition in Yemen, with half a million at risk of dying this year if adequate support is not provided.

• The education of thousands of children across the country continues to be disrupted by the occupation of schools by armed forces and armed groups, as well as the use of schools as shelters for IDPs.

• Preliminary findings from a rapid needs assessment in Taiz in December 2011 indicate that more than 6,000 people have been affected by ongoing violence, and are dependent on humanitarian actors for protection, water and sanitation.

• Incidents of acute watery diarrhea (AWD) continue to decline in southern governorates except for Ibb where the case fatality rate (CFR) is 4%. Incidents of measles outbreak have multiplied 20 times in some locations since the beginning of the year.

• While there has been reduction in the number of checkpoints and military presence in major urban areas, including Sana’a, the volatile security situation continues to pose a challenge to humanitarian operations.

• Following concerted advocacy, three major international NGOs successfully completed their registration and have begun operations in Yemen.

• On 1 February, a presentation of the Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan 2012 was held in Sana’a at the ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the attendance of all embassies present in Yemen.

• Germany contributed US$ 31 million to food aid in Yemen under the 2012 Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan.