UNICEF denounces that eleven million Yemenis urgently need humanitarian aid

March 24 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has denounced that eleven million Yemenis urgently need humanitarian aid and has warned that several million more may face malnutrition if urgent action is not taken.

This situation is the consequence of eight years of conflict, the economic collapse of the country and a paralyzed social assistance system, as explained by UNICEF in a report.

The current humanitarian crisis has caused some 2.2 million children to suffer from acute malnutrition, of which 540,000 are seriously ill, something that can put their lives in danger if they are not treated urgently.

“The lives of millions of vulnerable children in Yemen continue to be in danger due to the almost unimaginable and unbearable consequences of the crushing and endless war,” said Peter Hawkins, UNICEF representative in Yemen.

Between March 2015 and November 2022, more than 11,000 children have been killed or injured during the war, some 4,000 have been recruited by belligerent forces, and more than 900 attacks on educational and health facilities, which have also been used by the same military, according to UN data.

The organization has denounced that this crisis prevents the “materialization” of the basic rights of children such as health and education, and that they face early marriage, child labor and recruitment.

In addition, 2.3 million children are displaced within Yemen, making their access to basic health, nutrition, education, protection, and water, sanitation, and hygiene services inadequate.

“Yemen’s boys and girls should be able to look to the future with hope, not fear. We call on all parties to help us deliver that hope by engaging with the Yemeni people and bringing a weary country and population back from the brink.” the abyss,” Hawkins said.

UNICEF has “urgently” requested 484 million dollars (about 445 million euros) to continue its humanitarian assistance to the children of Yemen during 2023 and has indicated that, despite suffering a funding shortfall last year that put the level of aid, they managed to help millions of people to access the most basic and necessary services.