Thousands of conflict-displaced Yemenis receive vital UN food aid

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and its partners have provided assistance to almost 100,000 people displaced in northern Yemen by the latest round of fighting between Government forces and Al Houthi rebels, the agency reported today.

The clashes that resumed in August have driven some 150,000 people from their homes. UN officials have been calling for a ceasefire and the opening of humanitarian corridors to allow civilians to leave the conflict zone and enable aid workers to deliver much needed assistance to the internally displaced persons (IDPs).

WFP said that in spite of better access to some of the areas affected by fighting, the situation remains volatile and supply routes are unreliable.

The situation is particularly dramatic in the town of Sa’ada, where access has been extremely difficult for the past three months.

“Our biggest concern is that we might be unable to re-supply stocks in Sa’ada town, which could result in widespread suffering,” said Gian Carlo Cirri, WFP Representative in Yemen.

The agency has delivered commodities through a cross-border operation from Saudi Arabia to assist some 10,000 displaced people in the northern border area of Mandaba, five kilometres inside Yemen, where the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Yemeni Red Crescent Society began distribution last week.

A recent UN assessment mission to the area revealed that food prices have doubled since the conflict began and is out of reach for many families. Blankets, cooking utensils, medicine, and water sanitation facilities are among the other urgent needs.

Following recent clashes in the border area, WFP is monitoring the situation to see if more people start to flee the area, and to what extent its supply route through Saudi Arabia into northern Sa’ada governorate could be affected.