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Some five million people face famine and looming disease as war drags on, according to the UN.
Ending the ongoing famine in Yemen is a “top humanitarian priority” amid a litany of crises, said the outgoing UN special envoy for the country.
Martin Griffiths told the UN Security Council on Monday that about two-thirds of the war-torn country’s population – around 20 million people – depend on humanitarian aid for their daily needs.
About five million people “are one step away from succumbing to famine and the diseases that accompany it,” he warned.
10 million more people “are right behind them,” Griffiths added.
“Famine is not just a food problem. It is a symptom of a much deeper collapse. In many ways, these are all of Yemen’s problems brought together in one, and that requires a comprehensive response, ”he said.
Much of the country’s famine is linked to the extreme depreciation of the national currency of Yemen and the collapse of the economy, with GDP falling 40% since 2015, when Iran-backed Houthi rebels took control of the country.
The Yemeni riyal, meanwhile, is trading at an all time high against the US dollar.
Khaled Mohamed Khiari, UN Assistant Secretary General for the Middle East, has sounded the alarm again over worsening fuel shortages in the Houthi-controlled territories.
Only three oil-carrying ships have been allowed to dock in Yemen’s strategic port city of Hodeidah since July, while four others remain in a holding area controlled by the Saudi-led anti-Houthi coalition, a report said. declared Khiari.
The port of Hodeidah – which has remained largely closed over the years – is Yemen’s main port and a major lifeline for humanitarian supplies entering the country, which the UN has described as “the worst humanitarian disaster. in the world “.
“Prioritize civilian needs”
All but one of Yemen’s oil stations in Houthi-controlled territories have closed due to shortages, and wait times for filling gas canisters used for cooking have reached one month, according to the UN.
“We reiterate our call on the government of Yemen to urgently allow the entry of all essential commercial supplies, including fuel ships, into Hodeidah without delay,” Khiari said.
“All parties must prioritize the needs of civilians and refrain from arming the economy, especially in light of the critical humanitarian situation in the country.
In March, Saudi Arabia offered a nationwide ceasefire in Yemen, but the Houthis rejected the proposal, first calling for a complete end to the Saudi blockade of the country’s ports and Sana’a airport.
Saudi Arabia claims the Houthis are proxies for its regional rival, Iran. But the rebels deny having received material support from Tehran.
Meanwhile, Griffith called for an end to “profits” and the implementation of a definitive ceasefire, which would “give desperate civilians a break and create space to tackle the engines. of the crisis “.
Yemen has been in the throes of violence and chaos since 2014, when Houthi rebels invaded much of the country.
The conflict escalated in 2015 when Saudi Arabia and its regional allies launched a military campaign against the Houthis, who had taken control of the capital Sana’a and ousted the Riyadh-backed government of Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. .
The violence has triggered a massive humanitarian crisis that has killed at least 233,000 people, according to UN estimates, and left millions on the brink of famine.
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