11 million in Yemen face food crisis – UN

The UN Spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, said on Thursday in New York that nearly 11 million people in Yemen are facing severe food insecurity due to the current fighting in the country.

He said the Food and Agriculture Organisation reports indicated that nearly 10.6 million Yemenis are now severely food insecure, while 4.8 million are facing “emergency” conditions.

Dujarric said the people were also suffering from severe lack of access to food, very high and increasing malnutrition and irreversible destruction of livelihoods.

“The ongoing conflict has significantly exacerbated the humanitarian needs for millions of people,” he said.

He said the suspension of commercial flights to Yemen had continued to limit access for international humanitarian staff in and out of the country.

The spokesman said operations at sea ports were also restricted adding that armed clashes in southern Yemen have inhibited the delivery of supplies to areas with the greatest need.

Meanwhile, UN Children’s Fund said in spite of the challenges, a second aircraft loaded with lifesaving supplies has arrived at Sana’a International Airport.

UNICEF said the aircraft was bringing nearly 76 metric tonnes of antibiotics, bandages and syringes and other materials.

It warned that the food and fuel crises would intensify rapidly, as supply ships carrying wheat and fuel were recently refused entry at Hodeidah port on the western coast of Yemen.

World Health Organisation also said more than 730 people had been killed and nearly 2,760 injured in the country so far.

The UN Refugees Agency reported that 1,260 people fleeing conflict have arrived in Djibouti and Somalia over the past two weeks.

It said contingency plans were ongoing to receive an additional 30,000 refugees in Djibouti and 100,000 in Somalia over the next six months.

The security situation in Yemen has sharply deteriorated since early March when conflicts erupted in several provinces in the country’s southern regions.