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Yemen humanitarian crisis continues despite 5-day ceasefire: OCHA

Xinhua, May 15, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Friday said the humanitarian situation in Yemen remained bad as needs continue to grow despite the five-day ceasefire.

Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen Johannes Van Der Klaauw said the agency is aiming to reach 2.5 million Yemenis after the humanitarian pause which began on Tuesday.

The temporary ceasefire will also enable water systems to be repaired and fuel to be distributed which would benefit affected populations in the coming weeks.

Reports on the ground indicate that while the pause is generally holding, localized skirmishes continue to occur on a daily basis, preventing the ceasefire from being used to its full potential.

"We are continuously negotiating with parties to the conflict to try to secure access to the population," said OCHA head in Yemen Trond Jensen.

According to OCHA, another factor which is hindering relief efforts is the arms embargo inspection regime, as neither goods nor fuel can enter the country in sufficient quantities or in a timely manner.

"Inspections need to be simplified and made faster so that commercial and humanitarian imports of fuel, food and goods can be resumed," said Van Der Klaauw.

"Unless more fuel arrives in the coming weeks, hospitals, water and sanitation facilities, telecommunications and power suppliers will have to halt their activities," he added.

According to OCHA, 430,000 liters of fuel have been imported into the country so far, approximately 10 percent of what the country needs every month.

Fuel is critical to Yemen as it runs generators which provide electricity to hospitals and other essential services, and enables critical aid supplies to be transported to the Yemeni population.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 300,000 people have been newly displaced since March, and some 8.6 million people are in need of health services.

Official figures place the current death toll at over 1,600, while more than 6,200 people have been wounded during the ongoing crisis. Endit