| And here's what's happening on the ground right now. |
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Hi John,
As the IRC's country director in Yemen, I want to personally give you an update on the circumstances we're facing every day. In what's been called the worst humanitarian crisis on earth, at least 24 million Yemenis — nearly 80 percent of the population — remain at risk and require humanitarian aid or protection assistance.
In August, we saw a significant increase in fighting in the south of the country, including in Aden, the official capital. Fighting in Aden, Abyan and Shahwan has resulted in the loss of life, displacement of civilians and the destruction of economic and civilian infrastructure. In addition, it has impacted the IRC’s ability to deliver lifesaving programs to the affected populations in these governorates.
My team and I are doing everything we can to deliver relief to civilians — but it is challenging. In addition to the conflict and economic crisis, families here are facing cholera outbreaks, shortages of clear drinking water, hunger and an array of preventable illnesses. Our focus right now is on emergency medical care and urgent community health, nutrition and food security programming.
The IRC has been working in Yemen since 2012. We rapidly scaled up our programming in 2015 to address even greater humanitarian needs caused by conflict and associated economic crisis and have been working nonstop ever since.
The constant chaos, restrictions on air and sea ports and insecurity make this crisis immensely complex — and yet, with your support, the IRC has been able to continually provide lifesaving aid in many of the affected areas. Each week, our more than 800 field staff deliver health services for 10,000 people, rehabilitate water points for access to clean water, offer nutrition assistance and treatment to 500 children, provide cash transfers and vouchers for food to 5,000 families, and support 250 women in safe spaces.
It's unfathomable to think that after four years of war, the suffering of civilians could worsen further, but this is the reality Yemenis face as violence escalates.
The collapse of the economy has left millions unable to afford food, with 10 million hovering on the brink of famine. Together, we must continue to support these families and let them know that they have not been forgotten. We won’t turn our back on the people of Yemen and we know you won’t either.
Please visit our country page on Yemen to learn more about the crisis and our lifesaving programs.
My very best,
Frank Mc Manus
Country Director
IRC Yemen |
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