New UNICEF report reveals child casualties in Yemen conflict has surpassed one thousand

Urgent funding appeal only 16 per cent met as children killed and maimed daily

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SANAA, Yemen, Aug. 19, 2015 /CNW/ - An average of eight children are being killed or maimed every day in Yemen as a direct result of the conflict gripping the country, according to a report released by UNICEF.

Yemen: Childhood Under Threat says that nearly 400 children have been killed and over 600 others injured since the violence escalated some four months ago. 

Disrupted health services, increased levels of child malnutrition, closed schools and higher numbers of children recruited by fighting groups are among the effects of the conflict now ravaging the Arab world's poorest country.

 "This conflict is a particular tragedy for Yemeni children", said UNICEF Representative in Yemen, Julien Harneis. "Children are being killed by bombs or bullets and those that survive face the growing threat of disease and malnutrition. This cannot be allowed to continue", he added.

The report underlines that as devastating as the conflict is for the lives of children right now, it will have terrifying consequences for their future.

Across the country, nearly 10 million children – 80 per cent of the country's under-18 population – are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. More than 1.3 million people have been forced to flee their homes. 

Yemen: Childhood Under Threat outlines the different dimensions of the crisis facing children including:

• At least 398 children killed and 605 injured as a result since the conflict escalated in March. 
• Children recruited or used in the conflict has more than doubled – from 156 in 2014 to 377 so far verified in 2015.
• 15.2 million people lack access to basic health care, with 900 health facilities closed since March 26.
• 1.8 million children are likely to suffer from some form of malnutrition by the end of the year.
• 20.4 million people are in need of assistance to establish or maintain access to safe water and sanitation due to fuel shortages, infrastructure damage and insecurity.
• Nearly 3,600 schools have closed down, affecting over 1.8 million children.

UNICEF's response severely underfunded
UNICEF has been at the centre of humanitarian operations in Yemen since the beginning of the conflict. Its staff working across the country are responding to the critical needs of children by providing life-saving services including distribution of safe water and treatment of children with malnutrition, as well as diarrhoea, measles and pneumonia.

Over the past six months, the children's agency has provided psychological support to help more than 150,000 children cope with the horrors of the conflict and 280,000 people have learnt how to avoid injury from unexploded ordnances and mines.

Yet despite the tremendous needs, UNICEF's response remains grossly underfunded. With only 16 per cent of the agency's funding appeal of $182.6 million met so far, Yemen is one of the most under-funded of the different emergencies UNICEF is currently responding to around the world.

"We urgently need funds so we can reach children in desperate need," said Harneis. "We cannot stand by and let children suffer the consequences of a humanitarian catastrophe."

UNICEF reiterates its call on all parties to the conflict to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law and to stop targeting civilians and crucial infrastructure like schools, water and health facilities. UNICEF again emphasizes the urgent need to end the conflict once and for all.

About UNICEF
UNICEF has saved more children's lives than any other humanitarian organization. We work tirelessly to help children and their families, doing whatever it takes to ensure children survive. We provide children with healthcare and immunization, clean water, nutrition and food security, education, emergency relief and more.

UNICEF is supported entirely by voluntary donations and helps children regardless of race, religion or politics. As part of the UN, we are active in over 190 countries - more than any other organization. Our determination and our reach are unparalleled. Because nowhere is too far to go to help a child survive. For more information about UNICEF, please visit www.unicef.ca.

SOURCE UNICEF Canada

Image with caption: "10-year-old Sabah lives at the Markazi refugee camp for Yemenis in Obock, Djibouti, with her mum and younger brother. They escaped the conflict in Yemen after their home was flattened by rockets. Sabah wants to become a doctor in the future so she can help her mother. (CNW Group/UNICEF Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150819_C7459_PHOTO_EN_480374.jpg

To arrange interviews or for more information please contact: Tiffany Baggetta, UNICEF Canada, 416-482-6552 ext. 8892, 647-308-4806 (mobile), [email protected]