Yemen on Brink of Humanitarian Disaster: UN
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - The UN voiced alarm over an already dire food security situation in Yemen amid relentless Saudi attacks, saying the crisis could get much worse if it fails to receive more funding to address the issue.
In a statement released on Thursday, the UN said its Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) needs more funding.
It warned that the food and nutrition situation in Yemen will turn into a “humanitarian disaster” if more food is not delivered to the war-stricken country.
FAO should deliver timely aid in the April/May cereal and vegetable planting season and the summer fishing season, and vaccinate livestock before winter, it added, Press TV reported.
Around 14.4 million people – over half of Yemen’s population – urgently need food security and livelihood assistance as the country is reeling from a blockade imposed by Saudi Arabia, FAO reported earlier this week.
Yemen has been under military attacks by Saudi Arabia since late March last year. At least 9,400 people, including 4,000 women and children, have been killed, and over 16,000 others injured since the onset of the aggression on Yemen.
The impoverished nation is under a de facto blockade of the kingdom which is hampering shipment of food, medicine and other basic needs.
Shortage of medical supplies is also threatening the lives of the injured and doctors have to treat patients in damaged buildings, with poor equipment.
Back in January, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in a report expressed alarm about attacks targeting hospitals in the country, warning that lack of medical supplies has put the life of millions of people at risk.
“Drugs, medication and medical supplies have been prevented from crossing frontlines into hospitals which desperately need these supplies,” it said.
The ICRC called for the removal of barriers for the delivery of medical supplies as well as an end in attacks on health care facilities.
