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February 2016: Yemen crisis update

Countries
Yemen
Sources
ACTED
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Situation update, 11 February 2016:

Almost a year on after the beginning of the war in Yemen, there is still no end in sight. This conflict has so far killed at least 6,000 people. An estimated 82% of the population, that is to say more than 21 million people, require humanitarian assistance. Ground fighting and airstrikes have turned Yemen into one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

More than 2 million people have fled their homes. Yemenis all across the country struggle to eat every day and have access to safe water. Risks of disease, malnutrition and psychological trauma are extremely high, especially for children, and more than 3 million of them have no access to education. Schools and hospitals are being destroyed.

In addition to the war, the blockade that has crippled one of the most import-reliant countries provokes food, fuel and medical supplies shortages, increasing the population’s vulnerability and affecting their livelihoods.

How is ACTED responding?

As access to many areas in the country remain critically constrained due to ground fighting, airstrikes and fuel scarcity, ACTED field teams continue to balance the urgent requirement to meet immediate needs with careful considerations of security. In Ibb, ACTED has supported the local water corporation to access fuel and provided essential spare parts to sustain water pumping to nearly 300,000 people.

For rural populations in Al Dhale’e, ACTED has promoted improved sanitation environments to almost 60,000 people, rehabilitated 19 communal water points and is working on 9 other ones. The teams have also distributed water filters at household level across 15 villages in this governorate, and have reached an additional 14,000 people with hygiene kits in Ibb. Soon, they will begin water trucking to more than 35,000 people and kit distribution in Al Jawf and Al Dhale’e. In addition to those activities, an emergency cash distribution will be organized to support more than 10,000 people. However, many needs remain unmet as fighting continues.

The war in Yemen has struggled to catch the world’s attention, due to its slow build-up, the protracted nature of the crisis and its inaccessibility to media. Yet, the crisis situation continues and populations are in great need of humanitarian assistance.

Parties to the conflict must support safe and unrestricted humanitarian access to civilians in need, and work together for a permanent ceasefire and lasting political solution.