Local Editor

"Some 21.2 million people in Yemen, or 82% of the population, require some kind of assistance to meet their basic needs", according to a recently-published overview of Yemen’s humanitarian needs for 2016 carried out by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs [OCHA].

The overview noted that the severity of needs among vulnerable people has intensified across sectors amidst the ongoing conflict.

A Saudi-led coalition backed by the United States has been carrying out a military aggression on Yemen by launching airstrikes against the country since March 26. The airstrikes have not been authorized by the United Nations [UN[.

It found that six months of violence have taken a "severe toll" on civilians’ lives and basic rights. Since 26 March, health facilities have reported more than 32,200 casualties - many of them civilians. 

In the same period, the United Nations Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights [OHCHR] has verified 8,875 reports of human rights violations - an average of 43 violations every day. 

OCHA’s overview further said that millions of people in Yemen need assistance to ensure their basic survival. 

The overview said that an estimated 14.4 million are food insecure, including 7.6 million who are severely food insecure, while another 19.3 million lack adequate access to clean water or sanitation, and nearly 320,000 children are severely acutely malnourished.

In addition, the overview focused on how the collapse of basic services in Yemen continues to accelerate. 

UN partners estimate that 14.1 million people lack sufficient access to healthcare, three million children and pregnant or lactating women require malnutrition treatment or preventive services, and 1.8 million children have been out of school since mid-March.

Turning to the effects of displacement, the overview said that UN relief partners estimate that 2.3 million people are currently displaced within Yemen and an additional 121,000 have fled the country. 

OCHA said internally displaced persons [IDPs] are currently sheltering in 260 schools, preventing access to education for 13,000 children.

It estimated that about 2.7 million people now require support to secure shelter or essential household supplies, including IDPs and vulnerable host families.

Furthermore, it noted that solid waste removal has come to a halt in several areas, with service availability rapidly contracting due to direct impact of conflict and insufficient resources to pay salaries or maintain services.