(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) NEW YORK, July 12 (KUNA) -- UN senior officials warned on Wednesday that the situation in Yemen remains extremely grave, as conflict intensifies and tragic humanitarian situation continues to worsen.
Before the Security Council, the UN Special Envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmad expressed his deep concern by the continued targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure, and said it is " utterly unacceptable and must stop immediately." "I have consistently urged the warring parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law," he said.
Further, the UN official noted that the security continues to be undermined by the activity of extremist groups including Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, acknowledging the longer the conflict lasts, the more the terrorist groups will expand and threaten Yemen's future.
On the humanitarian situation, Ould Cheikh Ahmad said it is appalling, confirming that people are suffering from war, hunger and cholera, which has spread further during the last few weeks.
"The country is not suffering from a single emergency but a number of complex emergencies, which have affected more than 20 million people and whose scale and effect will be felt long after the end of the war," he added.
On this issue, Undersecretary General for humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O'Brien also told the Council that Cholera is spreading rapidly, as well as risk of famine remain acute.
According to him, more than 320,000 suspected cholera cases have been reported in nearly all of the country's districts, and at-least 1,740 people have already died from preventable disease.
He called on the international community to do more to ensure that the parties are upholding their obligations under international humanitarian law. (end) mao.mb
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