HIGHLIGHTS
Late July humanitarian pause in Yemen declared by KSA fails to hold; insecurity continues to hinder humanitarian access across the country
Humanitarian situation in Aden remains critical despite improved access for ships transporting humanitarian cargo to Aden Port
UN special rapporteur warns of deteriorating food security conditions, calls for unconditional humanitarian pause to facilitate aid delivery
KEY DEVELOPMENTS
Ongoing insecurity remains a key constraint to humanitarian access in many parts of Yemen. Despite a five-day humanitarian pause announced by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) on July 25, airstrikes and ground fighting between al-Houthi and pro-Republic of Yemen Government (RoYG) forces continued in at least eight governorates, according to the UN.
Humanitarian aid, particularly food commodities and fuel, is gradually arriving, and improved security conditions led to fewer movement restrictions for local residents in July. The humanitarian situation, however, remains precarious. Since late July, UN Humanitarian Coordinator (HC) for Yemen Johannes van der Klaauw, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC) Stephen O’Brien, and President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Peter Maurer have each traveled to Aden to observe humanitarian conditions in the city. In early August, staff from several UN agencies conducted a three-day mission to ascertain the possibility of re-opening a common UN office in Aden.
UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food Hilal Elver recently warned of critical food insecurity in Yemen, highlighting that six million people are deemed severely food insecure. According to the August 11 statement, clashes in a number of governorates—including Aden, Ad Dali’, Lahij, and Ta’izz—have prevented staple food items, such as wheat, from reaching civilian populations, and airstrikes have reportedly targeted local markets and trucks carrying food items. Special Rapporteur Elver called for an immediate and unconditional humanitarian pause to allow food and other humanitarian aid to reach populations in need.