Yemen: thousands more displaced by fighting and needing aid

Recent fighting in Yemen's southern governorate of Abyan has displaced an estimated 20,000 people who are in need of humanitarian assistance. The government of Yemen has been battling militants in the area.

 

Adrian Edwards, of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) says, "Hundreds of Yemeni families have fled the city of Zunjubar to the surrounding areas. UNHCR, our partners and local authorities are also helping 982 families hosted in seven schools in Aden city."

 

Gian Carlo Cirri, head of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) in Yemen, says the number of displaced in Aden now totals more than 7000 persons. About half of the displaced families have received food aid to this point.

 

Meanwhile in the capital city of Sanaa, Somali and Ethiopian refugees have sought refuge after fleeing the fighting in Hassaba. Cirri says WFP is planning a feeding program for the refugees, which may total as high as 4000. 

 

WFP and UNHCR are looking into moving the refugees to Al Mazrak camps which is already hosting those displaced from previous conflicts in Northern Yemen. There are tremendous humanitarian needs in northern Yemen, which is still reeling from the Sa'ada War between the government and Al-Houthi rebels.

 

The new wave of displacement is the latest round of suffering for a country that has seen conflict in the north and unrest in the south for years. The recent political unrest and violence in the capital is making matters much worse. President Saleh has left the country for medical treatment after being injured in an attack. Will he return? Or will there be a peaceful transition of power?

 

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says "We think an immediate transition is in the best interests of the Yemeni people" and that "the instability and lack of security currently afflicting Yemen cannot be addressed until there is some process that everyone knows is going to lead to the sort of economic and political reforms that they are seeking."

 

Hunger, malnutrition and disease may very well escalate dramatically in the coming months, if no peace settlement can be found. In addition, greater support is needed for humanitarian aid.

 

The UN World Food Programme has been underfunded for its hunger relief missions to vulnerable populations of Yemen. A food ration program intended for 14 governorates was only able to start in 4 because of the low funding.   

 

WFP is assessing the humanitarian situation right at this moment nationwide. Before the unrest began, over 7 million Yemenis already were suffering from hunger or "food insecurity."  

 

See also:  How You Can Help Yemen