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The situation
Violence has sharply escalated in Yemen in the past week, impacting on an already vulnerable population and reaching a critical level of low resilience in a country that has been continuously battling with poverty, drought and malnutrition for the past decade. The Yemen Red Crescent Society (YRCS) staff and volunteers are risking their lives to reach affected people with the provision of much needed aid materials are hampered by limited access. The humanitarian needs are significantly growing in parallel with the continuation of air military operations led by the coalition, in addition to the ground armed confrontations in Aden. In the eastern part of Yemen, another front has opened up as clashes have erupted.
The Ministry of Health and Population reported that the death toll has reached 1,042 while injuries are estimated to be over 3,700. These figures include those from the ground battles in Aden, which alone have resulted in 185 deaths and 1,700 injuries according to the same source. The number of Internally Displaced People (IDP) is also on a sharp rise as the conflict spreads. There are 1,245 families (8,715 people) who have moved from different cities and have headed to Harad district, and 300 families (2,100 people) to Abs in Hajjah governorate, while 35 families (245 people) moved to Mahweet.
YRCS, supported by its movement partners, IFRC and ICRC, is present in the field and providing its services to affected people in conflict areas.
Since the beginning of the clashes in Yemen, three YRCS volunteers have lost their lives, and one has been injured in the line of duty. The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement has called upon all parties involved in the conflict to respect its humanitarian work and guarantee the safety of aid workers and their unimpeded, immediate access to people in need across the country. Without that respect for humanitarian workers, ambulances and health facilities, it will remain extremely difficult to continue saving lives and providing much-needed assistance to the affected population.