Red Cross releases damning report on Yemeni situation

Despite political progress and, in some places, relative calm, Yemen as a whole remains in the grip of turmoil, said a report by the International Commitee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Wednesday. "Violence continues to disrupt the lives of ordinary people and efforts undertaken to help them. The ICRC, with clear priorities, is determined to improve people's lives." The report shows that Yemen's capital, Sanaa, was relatively calm as the new year began. In many other parts of the country, however, especially in the governorates of Saada, Hajjah, Abyan, and Aden, a rising tide of violence took the lives of hundreds of civilians. "Despite some progress on the political scene, the overall humanitarian needs of the population are on the rise, as the beginning of the transitional period has not yet resulted in economic improvement. The year-long demonstrations and the conflict have taken their toll on the entire economy and have massively disrupted infrastructure, which will need months if not years to be fully operational again," said the ICRC report. "Against this strained background, tens of thousands of families who had to flee violence in the north, centre, and south are still living in camps, mosques, or schools, relying on humanitarian aid to survive." Recent clashes in Saada governorate caused many casualties. "During the past few months, needs have arisen not only in Saada governorate but also in many other places in the country," said head of the ICRC delegation in Yemen Eric Marclay. "Shortages of electricity and other sources of energy, the insufficient water supply, the high prices of basic foods, and inadequate access to health care and medicines are serious concerns. Without robust humanitarian action and economic support, the situation could become even worse for thousands of people over the coming weeks," he added. "Our priority for the moment is to bring aid to places throughout the country where it is urgently needed, and to obtain access to Kitaf, Arhab, and other areas," he added. In Abyan and Aden, daily clashes and explosions continue to disrupt the lives of civilians. Aden has been the scene of several targeted attacks. Thousands of people displaced from Abyan are still in Aden and Lahj, living in difficult conditions without being able to return to their homes. In Lahj, 30, 800 people who fled Abyan received food rations, mattresses, and blankets distributed by the ICRC and Yemen Red Crescent Society volunteers. "Another top priority for us is to further expand our activities in Abyan," said Marclay. "For the third time, we distributed food to almost 155,000 internally displaced people and residents. We also distributed food donated by the World Food Programme to around 18,500 children in Jaar, Al Hosn, and Bateis. We are doing everything we can to cover the most pressing needs and ward off further displacement." "Deteriorating security is having a devastating effect on the humanitarian situation. Access to health care and water throughout the governorate remains a major concern for us," said head of the ICRC sub-delegation in Saada Ishfaq Khan. "We managed, with difficulty, to reach most of the areas we are concerned about - Dammaj, for instance - in late December. We evacuated wounded people, foreigners, and dead bodies, in addition to delivering food and other items to around 7,000 people. However, the violence is making it very difficult for our staff to reach other areas, such as Kitaf." In Saada town, the situation has been calmer since the beginning of the year. Some of the families displaced during past conflicts are now returning to their home villages. More than 4,000 returnees have been given food, other essential items, and travel compensation enabling them to go back home. In recent weeks, around 4,500 displaced people living in camps have received ICRC food rations. In addition, a food distribution in Saada's old city was completed last week. Altogether, the ICRC has brought aid to more than 26,000 people in Saada over the past few weeks in cooperation with community leaders. Also in the north of the country, around 250 displaced people in Al Ashah have been given such items as blankets, tarpaulins, kitchen sets, and hygiene parcels. The ICRC activities in Yemen focused also on the support for health-care facilities, the clean water, repairing the water network, and power stations.