OCHA Yemen: Escalating Conflict Flash Update 11 | 14 April 2015

Daily Key messages

Disruption of navigation in Yemen’s territorial waters will adversely affect food security. Even before the current escalation in conflict, almost half of all people in Yemen were short of food.

Overview

The world’s largest shipping association has said navigation in Yemen's territorial waters is restricted and ships are not allowed into Yemen unless inspected and approved. The Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) posted an advisory on its website on 13 April 2015. The association advised vessels to transit the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea outside Yemeni territorial waters where possible. A disruption in commercial shipping to Yemen will put pressure on the supply and prices of food in local markets because the country imports more than 90 per cent of its food.

In Aden, many shops and food warehouses have been looted by residents, especially in Crater and Dar Saad districts. Several residential buildings have been burnt down in ongoing violence between various parties to conflict in southern Yemen.

In the last 24 hours, airstrikes have targeted the city as well as Sana’a and Amran. In Marib, electricity towers were hit, disrupting supply to several places including Sana’a City. The road and bridges linking Marib and Sana'a have also been reportedly damaged. Eighteen out of 22 governorates in Yemen are now affected by the recent escalation of conflict.