Six months of violence in Yemen leaves more than 500 children dead, some 1.7 million at risk of malnutrition: UNICEF

UNICEF Canada

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GENEVA/SANA'A, Yemen, Oct. 2, 2015 /CNW/ - Six months of unremitting violence in Yemen has left at least 505 children dead, 702 injured and more than 1.7 million at risk of malnutrition, UNICEF said today. Across the country, nearly 10 million children – 80 per cent of the country's under-18 population – need urgent humanitarian assistance. More than 1.4 million people have been forced to flee their homes. 

"With every day that passes, children see their hopes and dreams for the future shattered," said UNICEF Representative in Yemen Julien Harneis. "Their homes, schools and communities are being destroyed, and their own lives are increasingly threatened by disease and malnutrition."

Even before the conflict, the nutrition situation was dire as Yemen produces less than 10 per cent of its food needs and relies heavily on imported foodstuffs. But the escalation of the fighting has caused food insecurity to spiral and malnutrition to spike.

The consequences for children are dramatic:

• The number of children under age five at risk of severe acute malnutrition has tripled in 2015, with 537,000 children now at risk, compared to 160,000 children before the conflict.
• Almost twice as many children under five, a total of 1.2 million children, are projected to suffer from moderate acute malnutrition this year, compared to 690,000 before the crisis.

Food shortages and poor access to markets caused by the conflict, reduced access to health facilities and sanitation, and the disruption of livelihood opportunities are the main causes for the deterioration. The scarcity of fuel, electricity, gas, water and other services and utilities is further exacerbating the situation.

Meanwhile, the last six months have seen a growing number of attacks on civilians and vital infrastructure.

• Since the escalation of the conflict in March 2015, UNICEF has verified attacks on or damage to 41 schools and 61 hospitals as a result of the fighting.
• Finding safe water has become a daily struggle for survival for more than 20.4 million people.
• More than 15 million people have lost access to basic health care.
• The education of more than 1.8 million children has been interrupted by school closures.
• More than 20 million people are struggling to get the safe water and sanitation they need.

UNICEF's response
Despite these extremely challenging conditions, UNICEF and its partners have been at the centre of humanitarian operations since the beginning of the conflict. The response has focused on providing drinking water and sanitation, education and child protection services as well as treatment of children with malnutrition, diarrhoea, measles and pneumonia.

• UNICEF and partners have provided three million people with access to safe water.
• Mobile health teams have helped deliver measles and polio vaccinations to more than five million children.
• Some 93,500 children were treated for severe acute malnutrition and over 520,000 were able to take their delayed school exams.
• Since the beginning of the year, the United Nations children's agency has also provided psychological support to help nearly 240,000 children cope with the horrors of the conflict.
• Some 360,000 people were reached with education material on avoiding unexploded ordnances and mines.

About UNICEF
UNICEF has saved more children's lives than any other humanitarian organization. We work tirelessly to help children and their families, doing whatever it takes to ensure children survive. We provide children with healthcare and immunization, clean water, food security, education, emergency relief, and more.

UNICEF is supported entirely by voluntary donations and helps children regardless of race, religion or politics. As part of the UN, we are active in over 190 countries – more than any other organization. Our determination and our reach are unparalleled. Because nowhere is too far to go to help a child survive.

For updates, follow us on Twitter and Facebook or visit unicef.ca.

SOURCE UNICEF Canada

Image with caption: "A boy pushes a wheelbarrow filled with jerrycans in Sana'’a, Yemen'’s capital. Finding safe water in the midst of conflict has become a daily struggle for survival for more than 20.4 million people. (CNW Group/UNICEF Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20151002_C5438_PHOTO_EN_512683.jpg

To arrange interviews or for more information please contact: Tiffany Baggetta, UNICEF Canada, 416-482-6552 ext. 8892, 647-308-4806 (mobile), [email protected]