Media Advisory: Un Humanitarian Chief Mark Lowcock to visit Yemen [EN/AR]

WHO: Mark Lowcock, Emergency Relief Coordinator and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs
WHAT: Mission to Yemen
WHEN: 24-28 October 2017
WHERE: Aden, Sana’a and other governorates

UN humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock will visit Yemen from 24 to 28 October to see first-hand the traumatic impact the conflict has had on the people of Yemen and to seek ways to strengthen the collective humanitarian response.

Today, the country’s humanitarian crisis is one of the largest in the world. The number of people, who need humanitarian assistance and protection across Yemen, has reached 20.7 million, an increase of 2 million since early 2017.

Facing the threat of famine, the world’s largest cholera outbreak and a brutal manmade conflict, an estimated 17 million Yemenis, who make up 60 per cent of the country’s population, are food-insecure. The total number of suspected cholera cases has exceeded 860,000 with over 2,100 associated deaths.

Despite the complex security situation and access constraints, humanitarian partners continue to deliver assistance across Yemen. In August, a record 7 million people were reached with direct food assistance. However, much more needs to be done to respond to the scale of needs.

Mr. Lowcock is expected to meet key officials in Aden and Sana’a to discuss ways of strengthening the aid operation and expanding the humanitarian space to save and protect civilian lives. He will also meet affected Yemenis outside of Sana’a and Aden to hear their plight and better advocate for them.

For more details on this mission and interview requests, please contact:
Ahmed Ben Lassoued (Yemen), benlassoued@un.org | +967 712 222 855
Russell Geekie (New York), geekie@un.org | +1 212 963 8340