UN, partners continue to offer aid to millions in need in Yemen

Four out of every five Yemenis, or 80 percent of the population, are in need of humanitarian aid, a UN spokesman said here on Thursday, citing reports of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

"Meanwhile, restrictions are severely constraining commercial imports, which are needed to meet 95 percent of basic requirements including food and fuel before the crisis," Farhan Haq, the deputy UN spokesman, said at a daily news briefing.

Fighting between two rival factions vying for power -- the Shiite Houthi rebel movement and forces backing ousted President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi -- have taken a heavy toll on civilians.

According to OCHA, the catastrophe killed or wounded more than 27,000 people, and left more 21 million in need of humanitarian aid.

Through efforts of the UN and its partners, 2.4 million Yemenis are receiving regular distribution of food or cash assistance, Haq said, adding that a total of 5.5 million people have received emergency food assistance at least once.

Some 3.7 million Yemenis have been provided access to potable water, he said, adding that 2.6 million Yemenis have improved access to health care through the provision of medicines, medical supplies, and fuel to health facilities.

He said that 2.4 million Yemeni children have been vaccinated against measles.

The lives of 97,000 severely malnourished children have been saved through intensive treatment for malnutrition, he said. "Additionally, 184,000 displaced and needy Yemenis have received household supplies such as blankets, buckets and kitchen sets."

"The United Nations has established a logistics hub in Djibouti where assistance is sent to Yemen by sea, as well as flights for the humanitarian community to Sana'a and Aden," Haq said.

So far, more than 750 million U.S. dollars have been raised for humanitarian action in Yemen, he added. Enditem