Yemen is dealing with two crises at one time- UNICEF ambassador

Source: 16/08/2010
SANA'A- Yemen is the only country dealing with two crises at the same time which are refugees and internally displaced persons and effects of conflicts, the UNICEF UK Ambassador for Humanitarian Emergencies Martin Bell said on Sunday.

Conflicts in the world cause main casualties among the civilians including children who usually suffer from psychological and physical effects; hence, we can imagine effects of conflicts in Yemen where half of the population are children, he said.

The remarks were given at a press conference held in Sana'a that was attended by the media.

'I have covered 18 conflicts but I have never seen a suffering like the one experienced by a child at one of the refugee camps in Saada whose eyes were hurt.'

The emergency crisis in Yemen has become more sever compared with crises in other countries I visited during conflicts or aftermath, he said, as he voiced concern about the psychological status of children due to a six-year war that displaced them and their families as well as the conditions of those in prison.

He promised to convey the suffering of the Yemeni children to the British people, international donor organizations and the international community through a videotape he recorded during his visit to Yemen.

My visit to the country came within my support and sponsorship of child issues as well as the goal of familiarizing with the conditions of the Yemeni children in conflict areas of Saada and at refugee camps, he said.

The main factor for the success of the UNICEF mission is represented by reaching children and community at refugee camps, he noted as he said the situation requires full commitment of the government and the Houthi Group to the ceasefire reached in February this year.

Furthermore, he praised the government's efforts in enabling him to visit the Hodeida prison where he inspected the conditions of the children inside it.

For his part, the UNICEF representative in the country Geert Cappelaere said the visit of the ambassador was of great importance because of the launch of the water project that will benefit the displaced and hosting communities.

He said the project represents a positive initiative in facing challenges, emergencies and impediments before development opportunities in the region.

Separately, he said that 40 per cent of Yemen's children suffer from malnutrition and 50 per cent of them are born underweight. He urged national and international organizations to take right measures to combat child malnutrition, voicing the UNICEF's readiness to help those affected by the Saada war.