The statement, reviewed by ‘Al-Ain News’, described the situation as a ‘real humanitarian disaster’ that could push families to the brink of collapse, calling for an ‘urgent appeal’ for international action. Organizations expect the situation to worsen in the coming months due to reduced aid and economic deterioration, which threatens families’ ability to withstand. The statement highlighted shocking daily suffering, with one in five families spending an entire day and night without food, children going to bed hungry while parents deprive themselves of meals to feed them, all amid a sense of helplessness in the face of deteriorating children’s health.
The statement pointed to a severe funding gap, as out of 19.5 million people in need of assistance, the humanitarian plan targeted only 10.5 million, forcing stakeholders into ‘difficult and impossible choices’ like ‘taking food from the hungry to feed the starving’.
The Arab country has been experiencing ongoing power struggles for many years between the internationally recognized government and the ‘Ansar Allah’ group, with repercussions affecting various aspects, leading to a humanitarian crisis described by the United Nations as one of the worst in the world. The ‘Ansar Allah’ group has controlled most provinces in central and northern Yemen, including the capital, Sana’a, since September 2014, while an Arab coalition led by Saudi Arabia launched military operations on March 26, 2015, in support of the Yemeni army to reclaim these areas from the group.
The ongoing war in Yemen, until late 2021, claimed the lives of 377,000 people and inflicted cumulative losses on the Yemeni economy estimated at $126 billion, while 80% of the population, around 35 million people, are in need of humanitarian assistance, according to UN reports.
