Humanitarian agencies are calling on the international community to support a lasting solution that could save the lives of millions of civilians in Yemen.
According to 13 international humanitarian organisations, what Yemen urgently needs is a permanent ceasefire, an end to the Saudi-led commercial blockade, an end to arms transfers to those responsible for breaches of International humanitarian law, and a sizeable increase in humanitarian and longer term development funding.
With 80% of the population – 20 million people - affected by the ongoing violence and requiring assistance, people in Yemen have some of the greatest humanitarian needs in the world today. The international community needs to step up and take immediate action to end the violence and respond to the growing crisis.
Failure to end the fighting and address root causes of the conflict will have a catastrophic impact on the humanitarian situation and will further polarize the country and entrench the position of the warring parties, resulting in a prolonged conflict.
Yemenis are struggling to survive as fuel, food and medical supplies are critically low due to the closure of land, sea and air routes. Just 14% of national fuel requirements have arrived in country since the end of March. Over 12 million people are going hungry as wheat and other staples are in increasingly short supply. More than 15 million are without access to health care as hospitals shut down due to lack of medical supplies and power cuts.
Instead of promoting a negotiated peace, prominent members of the international community have so far prioritized and supported military action in Yemen. Civilians and civilian infrastructure are being indiscriminately attacked by all sides to the conflict, which is in direct violation of international humanitarian law. More than 100 public buildings, including schools and hospitals, have been damaged or destroyed.
Signatories to the Statement: Action Contre la Faim (ACF), ADRA, CARE, Intersos, Friedrich Eber, Foundation (FES), Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), Oxfam, Progressio, Relief International (RI), Save the Children (SC), Search For Common Ground, ZOA.
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