This report was issued by the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Yemen. It covers the period from 22 September to 28 September 2009. The next report will be issued on or around 06 October 2009.
HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES
- Insecurity and sporadic clashes in Sa'ada town and in certain areas of its suburbs are impeding the delivery of assistance to thousands of trapped civilians and internally displaced persons (IDPs) who have not received any aid since the beginning of the conflict.
- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Yemen Red Crescent Society have so far been able to register and provide vital humanitarian assistance to some 22,000 persons in Sa'ada governorate and more than 8000 persons in the governorate of Amran.
- The Yemen Flash Appeal, launched on 2 September for US$23.7 million, is funded at just under 2 percent, with additional pledges amounting to about US$2.6 million.
- Given the access limitations and geographical spread of the IDPs in all four affected governorates, it has been very difficult to assess the full scope of displacement up to now, and to provide sufficient relief to those in need. However, the registration of IDPs is ongoing and there has been major progress.
II. Situation Overview
Six weeks after the escalation of the conflict, the humanitarian situation of civilians in the conflict zone and the surrounding areas has become alarming. The international humanitarian community has repeatedly appealed for a humanitarian truce in order to enable aid agencies to deliver assistance to civilians and IDPs. So far, only intermittent access to the stranded population in Sa'ada town has been secured through local NGO partners, leaving thousands of IDPs without assistance. The situation in Sa'ada governorate in northern Yemen remains tense, and sporadic clashes are ongoing in different locations.
The sixth war has spread to neighbouring areas, especially to Harf Sufyan in Amran governorate and in various parts of Al-Jawf governorate. The conflict areas in Al-Jawf governorate remain inaccessible to international organisations mainly due to insecurity and restrictions imposed by tribal groups.
Some aid organisations are currently assessing, with the assistance of the government, the possibility, or have already managed, to reach the northern part of Sa'ada governorate via cross-border routes from Saudi Arabia. The road from Amran to Sa'ada remains mostly blocked, and is highly insecure.
