Statement on behalf of the Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen, Jamie McGoldrick, on the World Humanitarian Day [EN/AR]

Sana'a, 19 August 2016 – Every year on 19 August, the World Humanitarian Day pays tribute to the world’s aid workers who tirelessly provide life-saving aid and humanitarian assistance to people in need, often risking their own lives on the front lines of a conflict and in natural disasters.

It is a day to advocate for humanitarian action to ensure that aid workers can safely deliver assistance to those in need and demand action to alleviate the suffering of people caught in crises.

In Yemen, the recent escalation of hostilities is exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation. The spike in fighting, including airstrikes, has affected non-military targets such as hospitals and schools which have been damaged and destroyed, resulting in casualties among innocent civilians, particularly women and children who continue to bear the brunt of the conflict.

Humanitarian workers have not been spared in the escalation of violence. Medical staff, in particular, have come under fire while providing assistance since the beginning of the conflict. Attacks on medical facilities are prohibited under international humanitarian law. These attacks put at risk the lives and well-being of millions of people who rely on medical assistance for survival and they will continue to impact the access to longterm health care when peace comes.

Despite the difficult situation, humanitarian partners in Yemen continue to work to reach as many people as they can with resources available. To date, over four million people across the entire country have been assisted with some form of humanitarian aid. However, overshadowed by other crises in the region, the emergency in Yemen doesn't get the attention and the financial support it deserves and overall needs far surpass the capacity of humanitarian partners to respond.

For further information, please contact:
George Khoury, Head of OCHA Yemen, khouryg@un.org, Tel +967 712 222 207
Ahmed Ben Lassoued, Public Information Officer, benlassoued@un.org, Tel. +962 79 7050 736
Federica D' Andreagiovanni, Head of Communication, dandreagiovannif@un.org, Tel. +962 79 6137 336
OCHA press releases are available at www.unocha.org or www.reliefweb.int.