Yemen – ICRC Bulletin No. 01 / 2009

Since mid-August, armed confrontations affecting the civilian population have intensified in the already volatile governorate of Sa'ada, in the north of the country, and spilled over into parts of Amran governorate. According to initial estimates, thousands of people have been displaced in the two governorates.

"Thousands of people have fled the fighting to seek refuge in Sa'ada city and surrounding areas. They probably could not take much with them, and many are now left stranded without even a roof to protect them from the rain," said the ICRC's head of delegation in Yemen, Jean-Nicolas Marti. "Their most important immediate needs are shelter, water, food and access to medical care."

ICRC and Yemen Red Crescent Society staff have so far registered more than 12,000 displaced people (IDPs) in Sa'ada governorate and more than 4,000 in Amran governorate while also meeting vital needs, for example by providing support for medical facilities.

YEMEN : UN RELEASES EMERGENCY FUNDS TO HELP PEOPLE TRAPPED BY FIGHTING

The United Nations has released over $200,000 in emergency funding to meet health needs in northern Yemen , the scene of deadly fighting between Government troops and rebels.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has received the funds from the Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) to help civilians uprooted by clashes in the Al-Malaheed area of Saada province, which borders Saudi Arabia and is a relatively remote and inaccessible region, where the violence has been concentrated.

WHO will use the influx of funds to provide health services, especially for women and children, as well as treat diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections.
The agency has already sent enough medical supplies to treat 200 people who have sustained injuries in the fighting, with plans to send more supplies next week.
Staff have been dispatched from WHO's regional office in Cairo , Egypt , to Yemen , and the agency is working with the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) to coordinate a combined health and nutrition response to the situation.

Yesterday, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced concern about escalating hostilities in northern Yemen , appealing to all sides in the clashes to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance to affected areas, his spokesperson Marie Okabe said following questions from journalists.
He also voiced hope that the situation in would soon be resolved by peaceful means and that the fighting will stop.
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SECRETARY-GENERAL VOICES CONCERN AT CIVILIAN IMPACT OF FIGHTING IN NORTHERN YEMEN

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is expressing concern about escalating hostilities in the mountains of northern Yemen, where civilians are reported to be trapped in the middle of deadly fighting between Government forces and rebels.

Mr. Ban appeals to all sides in the clashes to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance to affected areas, his spokesperson Marie Okabe said today following questions from journalists.

He voiced hope that the situation in northern Yemen would soon be resolved by peaceful means and that the fighting will stop.

The violence has been concentrated in Saada province, which borders Saudi Arabia and is a relatively remote and inaccessible region of Yemen.

The United Nations World Health Organization (<"http://www.who.int/countries/yem/en/">WHO) has dispatched enough medicines and supplies to treat 200 people who have sustained injuries in the fighting, and plans to send more supplies next week.

WHO reported that it has also sent additional medical staff from its regional office in Cairo to support the emergency health operations in Yemen, while it is teaming up with the UN Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org/">UNICEF) to coordinate a combined health and nutrition response to the situation.