Yemen: Escalating Conflict Situation Report No. 4 (as of 17 April 2015)

Highlights:

• Heavy airstrikes in Sa’ada over the last several days have exacerbated humanitarian needs. Thousands of people have reportedly fled after airstrikes hit private homes, markets, public buildings and other sites. Communications infrastructure has also been affected, complicating efforts to verify reports.

• Heavy fighting continues to be reported in residential areas of Aden. Electricity and water outages are intensifying.

• Rapid needs assessments in affected governorates of Hajjah, Aden, Al Dhale’e and Lahj found that communities in all surveyed locations ranked food and WASH support among top priority needs. Other priority needs included health, shelter and safety.

• Seven planes have arrived in Sana’a carrying humanitarian cargo – mainly WASH and medical supplies – since 11 April. However, commercial imports of fuel and food continue to be severely restricted, deepening vulnerability across entire Yemeni population and hampering humanitarian response efforts. Partners call on all parties to the conflict to facilitate humanitarian assistance and the importation of basic commodities, including food and fuel imports for civilian purposes without delay.