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Peter Hawkins, a representative from UNICEF in Yemen, emphasized the urgent need for action as he described the dire situation in the country. “We need to move fast,” he stated after visiting Hudaydah, where he observed individuals desperately seeking assistance on the streets. “They have given up. We cannot give up,” he stressed, reflecting the gravity of the humanitarian crisis.
In a briefing from Yemen’s capital, Sana’a, Mr. Hawkins reiterated how the protracted conflict has severely crippled Yemen’s economy, healthcare system, and overall infrastructure. He pointed out that despite any temporary lulls in violence, the ramifications of the ongoing conflict continue to have a profound impact on the youth, with over half of Yemen’s nearly 40 million residents dependent on humanitarian aid.
Aid lifeline under threat
UNICEF plays a crucial role in providing essential healthcare and treating malnutrition across Yemen. However, Mr. Hawkins warned that the agency’s operations are currently only 25 percent funded for the year, making it impossible to maintain even minimal services without immediate assistance from international donors.
The conflict, which has seen Houthi rebels (officially known as Ansar Allah) clashing with government forces backed by a Saudi-led coalition since 2015, continues to affect civilians. Although large-scale military operations have decreased since the UN-brokered truce in April 2022, sporadic military activity remains a concern.
Hans Grundberg, the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, highlighted the precarious state of ceasefire efforts in a recent briefing to the Security Council. Tensions escalated earlier this month when the United States conducted strikes on Houthi-controlled regions, reportedly in response to Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea following a ceasefire breakdown in Gaza.
During his visit to Hudaydah, Mr. Hawkins observed the devastation firsthand and reported that recent airstrikes in northern Yemen resulted in the tragic deaths of eight children.
Food, medicines blocked
Mr. Hawkins explained that crucial supply routes for food and medicine remain under siege and damaged. He noted alarming increases in food prices, which have surged by over 300 percent in the last decade, exacerbating widespread hunger and malnutrition.
He revealed that one in two children under the age of five suffers from malnutrition in Yemen, a statistic that is exceptionally disturbing on a global scale. In particular, more than 540,000 children are experiencing severe and acute malnutrition—a condition that is deeply distressing, life-threatening, and entirely preventable.
‘Thousands will die’
Mr. Hawkins articulated the perilous conditions for children unable to access necessary treatments, especially those in isolated mountainous and valley regions of northern Yemen. He warned that malnutrition compromises immune systems, hinders physical development, and diminishes the future potential of these children.
Additionally, around 1.4 million pregnant and lactating women are also suffering from malnutrition, perpetuating a cycle of hardship through generations. In specific areas of the western regions, severe and acute malnutrition rates have reached shocking levels of 33 percent.
In closing, Mr. Hawkins underscored the severity of the situation: “It’s not just a humanitarian crisis or an emergency. It is a catastrophe where thousands will die.” His statements serve as a critical call to action for the international community to prioritize support for Yemen in its time of dire need.
Source
news.un.org