SANA'A, Yemen and TORONTO, March 26, 2017 /CNW/ - As the conflict in Yemen enters its third year, families' coping mechanisms are being stretched to their limit, risking a total collapse in resilience. According to a new UNICEF report "Falling through the Cracks", more than 17 million people – or 65 per cent of the population – are sinking deeper into vulnerability, poverty and insecurity. The poorest country in the Middle East, and one of the poorest countries in the world, is facing an economic, social and humanitarian crisis as never before.
"Yemen is at risk of becoming a forgotten crisis, but there are millions of children suffering who we cannot forget, and who the international community has an obligation to protect," said UNICEF Canada President and CEO David Morley. "Thousands of children are being killed, maimed and recruited to fight, while millions more are starving and dying from preventable diseases. We have already allowed two years of war to pass. The world must act now to ensure a third year of fighting doesn't steal the lives and futures of so many more vulnerable children."
Yemen facing food security emergency
Yemen is now the largest food security emergency in the world. The number of extremely poor and vulnerable people is skyrocketing. Every second person in Yemen now lives on less than US$2 a day. Around 80 per cent of families are in debt or are borrowing money simply to feed their children. Families are in general eating much less, opting for cheaper food or skipping meals.
"The war in Yemen is exposing children to more deprivation, disease and grave risk to their lives," said Meritxell Relaño, UNICEF Representative in Yemen.
Ten million children in urgent need
According to the report, nearly ten million children or 80 per cent of the country's children are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Other key findings from the report include:
UNICEF calls for four urgent measures
Despite the difficulties in delivering aid, UNICEF remains committed and on the ground providing nutrition screening, vaccinations and other life-saving support for millions of children and families caught up in the ongoing crisis.
UNICEF reiterates its call for:
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. For updates, follow us on Twitter and Facebook or visit unicef.ca.
SOURCE UNICEF Canada
For interviews or more information, please contact: Stefanie Carmichael, UNICEF Canada, 416-482-6552 ext. 8866, [email protected]
UNICEF is the world’s leading humanitarian organization focused on children. We work in the most challenging areas to provide protection, healthcare and immunizations, education, safe water and sanitation and nutrition. As part of the United Nations, our unrivaled reach...
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