ReliefWeb

Action Against Hunger has learned, with deep sadness, of the death of one of our Yemeni staff members in Hodeidah last night. Action Against Hunger condemns the killing of our colleague and the violence that impacts innocent civilians in Yemen every day.

On March 18 at 5 pm (CET), clashes and artillery shelling were reported in the city of Hodeidah. A’amnah, an Action Against Hunger aid worker, was outside with her sister when shrapnel hit them. A’amnah was killed and her sister injured.

A’amnah had been with Action Against Hunger in Yemen since 2016, first working in one of our health centers and most recently as a hygiene promoter. As part of her job, she educated people about health risks associated with waterborne diseases and how to prevent outbreaks through good hygiene practices. A’amnah was an esteemed and hardworking colleague, fully dedicated to supporting the most vulnerable people.

“We learned with deep sadness about the death of A’amnah. She was an example of dedication and professionalism within our organization. Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and colleagues in Yemen,” says Véronique Andrieux, Executive Director of Action Against Hunger’s France office.

The Action Against Hunger office in Hodeidah will remain closed for the next two days out of respect for A’amnah and her family and to assess the security situation.

Throughout the Hodeidah governate, Action Against Hunger supports 21 health clinics that focus on acute malnutrition. The organization also manages the city's main diarrhea treatment center and provides drinking water to areas such as the port of Hodeidah, where the main access networks to water were destroyed by conflict.

“This tragic event shows that the situation in Yemen is far from being stabilized and violence continues to kill innocent civilians each day. It is critical that all parties to the conflict respect the commitments made in the ceasefire agreement, including immediate cessation of hostilities and ensure protection of civilians,” added Véronique Andrieux.

Since the beginning of the conflict in March 2015, more than 57,000 people have died and nearly 3.9 million people have been displaced by the violence, according to estimates. Nearly 80 percent of the population, or 24.4 million people, need protection and humanitarian assistance.

Humanitarian access must urgently be granted throughout Yemen to meet the direct needs of the population, exhausted by years of conflict. Despite the agreement signed in Stockholm last December, fighting continues in and around Hodeidah, killing civilians.

The international community must support a political solution to resolve the conflict in Yemen. Humanitarian aid alone will not solve one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Only an inclusive political process can create the conditions for lasting peace and alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people.

Action Against Hunger’s Work in Yemen

Action Against Hunger has worked in Yemen since 2012. Our programs are located in Lahj, Abyan, Hodeida, and Hajja. In 2018, our teams provided acute malnutrition treatment for more than 30,000 people across the country and our hygiene awareness programs reached more than 500,000 people.