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Crisis worsens for children in Yemen
The UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, warns that as fighting continues, children are bearing the grunt of the conflict, and appeals to parties to the conflict to protect civilians and children and to not hinder humanitarian access.
By Deborah Castellano Lubov
Amid an already dire situation for children in Yemen, the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, warns that they are suffering more than ever as fighting intensifies.
In its latest findings, UNICEF says the resumption of hostilities across the Middle Eastern nation is forcing tens of thousands of families from their homes and placing children at increasing risk.
In just two weeks, more than 104,000 people, including over 57,000 children, have been displaced, according to the agency.
Since 3 September, the agency stated that at least nine children have been killed and 12 injured, while three others are reported missing following an attack on the road linking Yemen’s western coast to Aden.
Against this bleak backdrop, UNICEF is appealing to all parties to the conflict to protect civilians, particularly children, respect international humanitarian law, and ensure safe and unhindered humanitarian access so that urgent assistance can reach those in need.
One of the world’s most serious humanitarian crises
In this context, the UN Children’s Fund has recalled that Yemen is already facing one of the world’s most serious humanitarian crises, making the recent escalation particularly concerning.
Even before the latest fighting, an estimated 12.2 million children in Yemen were in need of humanitarian assistance, the agency noted.
It added that more than 2.2 million children under the age of five are suffering from acute malnutrition, including more than 515,000 cases of severe acute malnutrition.
Impact on education and essential services
The agency also estimated that 3.2 million school-age children are out of school.
Essential services have also been widely disrupted.
Twenty-six health facilities supported by UNICEF have experienced interruptions, while 243 schools have closed or suspended classes, affecting more than 137,000 students.
UNICEF has redeployed several mobile health and nutrition teams to displacement centres and affected communities.
However, the agency warned that these efforts remain insufficient in the face of the rapidly deteriorating situation.
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