Attachments
KEY FIGURES
20.7 million people in need
2,014,026 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)
89 per cent of IDPs displaced for more than a year
956,076 IDP returnees
1,015,375 recipients of CRIs since March 2015
280,539 refugees and asylum seekers
Operational Update
UNHCR is alarmed that recent clashes in Sana’a have yet again placed civilians directly in harm’s way. The eruption of hostilities on the streets of the capital coupled with aerial bombardment forced families to seek shelter in their homes in fear. The U.N Humanitarian Coordinator, Jamie McGoldrick, citing ICRC figures, has reported that at least 230 individuals have been killed and over 480 injured in Sana’a and northern governorates as a result of fighting. Among those affected include persons of concern to UNHCR, with two Somali adults impacted. Caught in the cross fire, one refugee has passed away, while another remains in a critical condition. Stray bullets also prematurely ended the life of a 14-year old Somali child and injured another 11-year old child. UNHCR is following up with the families of the deceased and injured to support them at this difficult time. On top of a direct risk to life, thousands of people remained in their homes this week, without safe access to water, food, medical assistance and fuel. In addition to the current crisis, a blockade on both commercial and humanitarian goods reaching Yemen remains in place, pushing families closer to the brink. The blockade, which has yet to be eased, has resulted in scarcity and subsequent increases in the price of fuel, water and essential commodities, including food and much needed medicines.
Further evidence of the increasing vulnerability of the Yemeni population was illustrated this week, with the release of the Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) for 2018. Needs across Yemen remain overwhelming, with an estimated 22.2 million people requiring some form of humanitarian or protection assistance, including 11.3 million who are in acute need, representing a worrying increase of more than one million people since June 2017. Some 8.4 million are just one step away from starvation.
These figures do not include additional needs that have arisen as a result of the past month of blockade or the recent escalation of hostilities.