
The UN has declared its highest-level humanitarian emergency in Yemen, where months of fighting and a blockade by a Saudi-led coalition have left about 80% of the population in need of aid. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for a pause in hostilities until the end of Ramadan so that assistance can be delivered. A senior UN official warns that Yemen is near famine.
Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights – June 7, 2015 – We are deeply concerned about the worsening human rights and humanitarian situation in Yemen, where civilians continue to bear the brunt of the conflict. Between17 June and 3 July, at least 92 civilians, including 18 women and 18 children, were killed and 179 others, including 43 women and 30 children, were injured throughout the country. These figures bring the total number of civilians reportedly killed and injured since 27 March 2015 to 1,528 and 3,605 respectively. Over 1 million civilians have been internally displaced or have sought refuge in neighboring countries since the conflict began. In addition to insecurity on the roads and the blocking of access to food and clean water, restrictions of movement have been imposed on civilians. Shortages of medicine, essential medical supplies and fuel have reached critical levels, creating an extremely challenging situation and further deteriorating Yemen’s healthcare system.
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