Millions Of Children, Families In Yemen Could Soon Be Without Basic Necessities - UNICEF

Umer Jamshaid Published October 18, 2018 | 08:05 PM

The situation for millions of children and families in war-torn Yemen could become even worse as the country's economic crisis and violence continue to affect residents, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Executive Director Henrietta Fore said in a news release on Thursday.

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th October, 2018) The situation for millions of children and families in war-torn Yemen could become even worse as the country's economic crisis and violence continue to affect residents, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Executive Director Henrietta Fore said in a news release on Thursday.

"Millions of desperate children and families across Yemen could soon be without food, clean water or sanitation services because of the deepening economic crisis and unrelenting violence in the port city of Hudaydah," Fore said in the release.

Fore explained that the prices for many basic food items have skyrocketed because of inflation and many families could soon join the 18.5 million people who are already "food-insecure."

Moreover, the potential collapse of water and sewage treatment systems could in turn cause disease outbreaks and increase malnutrition, Fore added.

The bad conditions are compounded by the situation in Hudaydah, where violence threatens to choke off an essential supply chain of fuel and humanitarian aid that sustains 28 million Yemenis, according to the release.

"If the port is attacked, damaged or blocked, an estimated 4 million more children will become food insecure throughout the country," Fore said.

Yemen has been gripped by a civil war with the government headed by Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi fighting the Houthi movement. The government is backed by the Saudi-led coalition, which has been carrying out military operations in the areas controlled by the Houthis since March 2015.