Humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, Johannes Van Der Klaauw, calls for safe passage and predictable access to Taizz and humanitarian windows for delivery of assistance [EN/AR]

(Sana’a, 31 August 2015) The situation of the civilian population in the Governorate of Taizz is growing increasingly desperate. The city of Taiz has been turned into a battle-ground with people caught between frontlines. Civilians are subject to seemingly indiscriminate violence and other grave and systematic Human Rights violations perpetrated by all parties to the conflict. During the first five days of fighting, 65 people have died and over 400 have been injured, according to health facility records. Water, sanitation and health services in the city of Taiz have collapsed, depriving over 300,000 people of access to basic services. Communicable diseases like Dengue fever are on the rise.

Over 3 million people are at risk in Taizz Governorate and delivery of assistance has become nearly impossible. Food and fuel to run water and sewage works and generators for hospitals are not reaching the points of delivery, as well as other critical assistance. Humanitarian workers are increasingly being targeted, harassed and even abducted by armed men belonging to all parties to the conflict and vehicles carjacked. These are unacceptable developments.

I call on all parties to abide to their responsibilities to respect the lives and rights of civilians and protect civilian infrastructure under International Humanitarian Law. The United Nations and humanitarian partners need predictable, safe and unimpeded passage and access to communities in need in the whole of Taizz Governorate. We need windows for humanitarian agencies and beneficiaries to allow us to work and people in need to access services and to obtain much needed, lifesaving humanitarian assistance.