Al Qaeda closed 66 schools and killed children in south Yemen

Source: UNICEF, 07/05/2012

All 66 schools in Lawder district, Abyan governorate, have been closed since 9 April due to fighting between government forces and Ansar Al-Sharia militants, following an attack on Lawder town by the Al-Qaida affiliated group.

· Four children (4 girls) were reportedly killed in Abyan and Sa’ada and five children (4 boys and 1 girl) were injured in Abyan, Lahj and Hajjah governorates. Out of these incidents, three girls were killed in Lawder district, Abyan, in alleged mortar fire by Ansar Al-Sharia, and one girl was killed and one boy and one girl were injured in mine/UXO incidents in Sa'ada and in Ahim, Hajjah governorate.

· Urban water and sanitation systems are facing continuous deterioration in service quality and coverage, especially in Aden and Taiz, as a result of power cuts and a lack of financial resources and maintenance.

· The integrated measles, polio and vitamin A supplementation campaign targeting over 8.2 million children (6 mo. to 10 years) achieved a coverage rate of 94%, 90% and 85% for measles, polio and vitamin A, respectively. The number of reported measles cases fell to 106, with zero death.