UN: Yemenis facing deepening humanitarian crisis

[News_Editor]

UN: Yemenis facing deepening humanitarian crisis

2011-11-30 23:07:53 GMT+7 (ICT)

NEW YORK (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations has warned that the humanitarian situation in Yemen is likely to continue to deteriorate over the next year despite the recent political agreement to restore peace and stability.

Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Catherine Bragg said after a four-day visit to the country that she was concerned by the severe humanitarian crisis millions of people are facing. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), tens of thousands of people have been displaced by the fighting in Abyan governorate alone.

"We are seeing chronic deprivation made worse by continuing violence, with some of the world's highest malnutrition rates, a breakdown of essential services and a looming health crisis," Bragg said.

Bragg also traveled to northern Yemen where some 300,000 people remain displaced by the conflict in Sa'ada governorate. Many people are unable to return to their homes because of insecurity, fears of retaliation and loss of livelihoods and assets, the UN said.

Bragg called on the Yemeni authorities and others involved in the conflict to protect civilians and ensure their access to basic services. "We cannot risk the situation becoming a catastrophe," she stressed.

On Monday, the members of the United Nations Security Council underlined the importance of strictly implementing the new political agreement, which agrees to a power transfer and elections to be held. Yemeni parties were also urged to work with the UN, the international community and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to achieve lasting peace, stability and reconciliation, as the Council stressed the need for increased and unimpeded humanitarian access.

The timetable set out in the GCC-brokered agreement includes the formation of a government of national consensus, presidential elections within 90 days, a national dialogue, a constitutional review and a program of reforms that start to tackle the profound humanitarian, economic and security challenges that Yemen faces.

Also under the accord, President Ali Abdullah Saleh agreed to hand over his powers to Vice President Abed Rabbo Mansour al-Hadi who is expected to take over as Acting President by December 23.

Last week's political agreement followed months of deadly clashes between supporters and opponents of Saleh and his regime, part of the so-called Arab Spring movement that has swept the Middle East and North Africa this year.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-11-30

[maidu]

Yemen is a territory which can reasonably support few people. It's basically denuded hills. Its one natural resource is it's shoreline and sea, where it's catching less fish. It doesn't even have a tourist industry. Its standard of living, even in the best of times, is base. Hate to break the news, but the best thing people in places like Yemen can do is have less children, or move to places which can support settlers (at least offer fodder for their goats) - such places becoming increasingly rare as time (and Man's habitat destruction) rolls on.