Highlights
• Hostilities escalated dramatically across the country after the suspension of the UN-backed peace talks in Kuwait, claiming civilian lives and leaving heavily damaged civilian infrastructure. Airstrikes resumed in the north of the country and in the capital Sana’a, and ground fighting continued in Taiz, Marib, Al Jawf and Sana’a. Humanitarian access and operations were seriously affected.
• The Humanitarian Country Team has finalized the revision of the Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan for 2016. UNICEF’s programme targets are being reviewed and will be updated taking into consideration the growing humanitarian needs and enhanced implementation capacities in the field.
• Situation in Taiz governorate and particularly in Taiz city, remains worrying. Despite ongoing access constraints, UNICEF and partners are providing WASH, health, nutrition and protection services, including monthly humanitarian cash transfers reaching over 11,800 households.
Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs
August concluded with a tragic toll for civilians in Yemen. After the end of the UN-backed peace talks in Kuwait, hostilities and ground fighting escalated dramatically across the country. Airstrikes killed seven children and injured 21 others in a religious school in Sa’ada, four children were reportedly killed and three were injured in east of Sana’a, seven people were killed and several injured following an attack on a market also in Sa'ada governorate, while in Hajjah governorate a hospital supported by MSF was hit by another airstrike killing 19 people. Since the escalation of the conflict, UNICEF has been able to verify that at least 1,121 children have been killed and another 1,650 have been injured, however the actual numbers are likely to be much higher. The estimation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) has significantly increased according to the last report of the Task Force on Population Movement (TFPM),1 3,154,572 individuals have been displaced since March 2015, of which 949,470 have returned and their humanitarian needs remain high. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNOHCHR) released a new report on the Situation of human rights in Yemen highlighting a number of serious allegations of violations committed by all sides to the conflict, and their impact on civilian lives, health and infrastructure.
Humanitarian access and operations were highly affected during August. Due to closure of the airspace, the Sana’a International Airport was closed on 8 August causing delays for the delivery of humanitarian supply and deployment of staff. Humanitarian flights resumed on 16 August but the airport remained closed for commercial flights, affecting an estimate of 7,600 passengers. Bridges and roads, particularly those leading into the capital, have been cut-off causing temporary disruptions in transportation. Following the attack that hit an MSF-supported hospital, and due to lack of safety assurances, the INGO announced its decision to evacuate its staff from hospitals in Sa’ada and Hajjah governorates.
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Yemen is not getting enough international attention and the required financial support.
With only 26 per cent of Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) requirements funded as of mid-August, the Yemen Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) agreed to review its 2016 HRP by reducing its funding requirements to US$1.6 billion to reach 12.6 million people with life-saving and protection services, focusing on the most urgent programmes.