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Yemen: Al Hudaydah Update Situation Report No. 14, Reporting period: 16 October - 13 November 2018

Countries
Yemen
Sources
OCHA
Publication date

I. Situation Overview

HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE SCALED UP AS NEEDS INCREASE

During the first 10 days of November, there was a marked increase in airstrikes, artillery fire and clashes in Al Hudaydah Governorate, especially around Al Hudaydah City. Hotspots included the airport area to the south of the city, and the areas around Kilo 10 and Kilo 16 to the east, the university and Al Thawrah Hospital towards the coast. Clashes were reported close to 90 Street and at the airport junction in the Alrabasa area to the northeast.

Other districts in Al Hudaydah Governorate that were hit by airstrikes included Al Marawi’ah, Ad Durayhimi, Al Hawak, Al Hali, As Salif and Zabid, and clashes continued in the Hays area. Further south, heavy shelling was reported in At Tuhayat town on 6 and 7 November. To the north, in Hajjah Governorate, by 7 November, the fighting had reportedly moved to A’shim Junction, Haradh and Mustaba districts, and armed clashes were reported around Haradh town.

The intensity of fighting reduced in Al Hudaydah City on 12 November, amidst reports of a possible de-escalation in hostilities, although some renewed fighting and airstrikes were reported again on 13 November, leading to a number of injuries.

Civilian Casualties

The conflict in Al Hudaydah Governorate continues to exact a high civilian toll and to damage civilian infrastructure. The Protection Cluster’s Civilian Impact Monitoring Project (CIMP) reported 37 casualties between 18 and 31 October across the Al Hudaydah hub, including 21 civilians who died in an attack on a vegetable packing facility in Bayt Al Faqiah District. In the first week of November, as the conflict escalated, the Protection Cluster reported 92 civilian casualties, 34 of them fatalities. Most casualties were in Al Hali and Al Hawak districts on the outskirts of Al Hudaydah City, where some of the heaviest fighting was reported. CIMP also reported damage to civilian infrastructure.

Overall estimates of civilian casualties in Al Hudaydah and surrounding governorates since the initial escalation of fighting in June 2018 vary, and are likely to be underestimates. Between 13 June and 22 October (before the recent escalation of fighting), WHO recorded 193 conflict-related deaths (135 men, 21 women, 25 boys and 12 girls) and 2,091 injured (2,033 men, 28 women, 25 boys and five girls) based on health-facility reporting in Al Hudaydah Governorate.

Access challenges

Further fighting across Al Hudaydah Governorate could obstruct access, trap civilians and impede access to humanitarian warehouses and other facilities. Already, humanitarian movement and access to warehouses and to people in need have become more difficult or impossible in some cases.
During the reporting period, WFP was unable to access 51,000 metric tons (MT) of wheat grain, enough to feed 3.5 million people for a month, that is stored at the Red Sea Mills at Kilo 10, because of the fighting. Similarly, a key UNHCR warehouse where emergency shelter and non-food items are stored has also become inaccessible due to fighting.

Partners in Al Hudaydah City are ready to move supplies from warehouses and other facilities, if conditions allow for safe access to premises. In Aden, partners are drafting contingency plans to ensure continued access and response to the population in Al Mokha, Al Khawkhah, Hays and At Tuhayat districts.

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.