UN: Humanitarian Situation in Taiz Alarming; Commercial Supplies Not Arriving
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned that the humanitarian situation in Taiz has become alarming as commercial supplies are not reaching it.
In a statement, it confirmed that about 300,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in Yemen since the beginning of last August due to the escalating fighting, while about 5.2 million people were already displaced in the country before the recent escalation.
The Office stated that the humanitarian situation in the city of Taiz is particularly alarming, as all roads leading to the city have been closed due to the fighting, and commercial supplies are no longer reaching it.
It explained that health services in the city are deteriorating due to a lack of supplies and difficult access, noting that about a quarter of a million people have lost access to basic healthcare, including more than 186,000 children under five and 23,000 pregnant women.
It added that 12 hospitals are threatened with closure or have been forced to reduce their services due to a lack of fuel and essential supplies, while more than 1,400 cases of acute diarrhea and suspected cholera were recorded in a single week.
It noted that the Office and its partners in the health sector are coordinating a 90-day emergency plan to ensure the continuation of life-saving services, restore disrupted healthcare, and enhance disease surveillance.
Regarding civilian casualties, the Office reported that the UN Human Rights Office has verified 272 civilian casualties since the beginning of August, including 68 killed and 204 injured, noting that children constitute 40 percent of the total casualties.
It pointed out that humanitarian partners have provided food aid, hygiene materials, and emergency cash assistance to more than 254,000 displaced people.
The United Nations reiterated its call to all parties to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, respect international humanitarian law, and ensure safe, sustained, and unimpeded humanitarian access, including allowing aid to be delivered to the city of Taiz.
المصدر: Al-Mahriah Net + open sources
