More Than 104,000 Displaced In Yemen Amid Renewed Fighting: UNICEF

(MENAFN- Pajhwok Afghan News) "> KABUL (Pajhwok): The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) says more than 104,000 people, including over 57,000 children, have been displaced in Yemen in just two weeks amid renewed hostilities.

In a statement, UNICEF said that since September 3, at least nine children had been killed and 12 injured, while three others were reported missing following an attack on a road linking Yemen's western coast to Aden.

The agency said fighting in western Taiz, southern Hudaydah, Marib and other affected areas was cutting children off from essential services. It said services at 26 UNICEF-supported health facilities had been disrupted, while 243 schools had closed or suspended classes, affecting more than 137,000 students.

UNICEF said it had expanded its emergency operations to assist 231,000 people affected by the crisis. The agency is providing healthcare, safe drinking water, hygiene supplies and nutrition assistance in several areas.

The statement said child-protection teams were also providing psychosocial support and case management, including assistance to unaccompanied and separated children, while helping communities reduce risks from explosive remnants of war.

According to UNICEF, even before the latest escalation, an estimated 12.2 million children in Yemen were in need of humanitarian assistance.

More than 2.2 million children under the age of five are acutely malnourished, including more than 515,000 suffering from severe acute malnutrition, while 3.2 million school-aged children are out of school.

Around 17.8 million people lack adequate access to healthcare, water and sanitation services, with only 60 percent of health facilities fully operational, UNICEF said.

The agency reiterated the UN secretary-general's call for all parties to the conflict to protect civilians, including children, comply with international humanitarian law, and ensure safe and unimpeded humanitarian access so that urgently needed assistance can reach affected communities.

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