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Malnutrition to kill more Yemeni children than bombs and bullets: UNICEF

Xinhua, May 8, 2015 Adjust font size:

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) revealed on Friday that restrictions on both fuel and food imports to Yemen are predicted to kill more children over the next three months than bombs and bullets.

"Fuel may run out completely in less than a week" UNICEF spokesman Christophe Boulierac confirmed, adding that medical teams were finding it increasingly difficult to access vulnerable populations.

It's estimated that 120,000 additional children are at risk of suffering from acute malnutrition in the coming months if health and hygiene institutions are unable to function properly.

According to UNICEF, 1.2 million children are likely to suffer from preventable diseases such as pneumonia and measles as both aid teams and health centers struggle to meet the needs of the Yemeni population.

A total of 2.5 million children under the age of five are also at immediate risk of contracting diarrhoeal and other communicable diseases, which can lead to a range of medical complications and even death.

"Human access continues to be a crucial challenge, and we have seen cases of humanitarian aid workers being attacked, detained and supplies confiscated," said the spokesman.

One of the main obstacles impeding fuel imports is the inspection regime making sure that no weapons enter Yemen.

As fuel and food imports continue to be restricted by parties of the conflict, prices have skyrocketed meaning the poorest are unable to afford essential supplies.

According to WHO figures, 1,439 casualties have been reported between March 19 and May 4 of this year; nearly 6,000 people have been injured.

Figures from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights indicate that 646 civilians, including 50 women and 131 children, died between March 26 and May 3 and more than 1,364 civilians have been injured as a result of protracted fighting in the country. Endit