Update

May 6, 2015

At this point, no amount of assistance will prevent the violence in Yemen from becoming a humanitarian catastrophe. There are few humanitarian organizations still functioning in Yemen, and our operations are severely threatened by the lack of resources, including fuel, as well as the security situation. The existing organizations will be forced to cease operations in the next few weeks, thereby halting any relief to the Yemeni people. International Medical Corps estimates that the number of severely malnourished children in the country could double from pre-conflict levels, reaching over 1.5 million. Hospitals have been operating for weeks without significant supplies of electricity, water, medical equipment and drugs, and the communications network is on the brink of shutting down.

International Medical Corps is continuing to distribute non-food items, surgical kits and water in the affected areas. Most International Medical Corps mobile medical units are continuing to reach isolated communities and are providing medical care, except one team that has run out of fuel. International Medical Corps’ teams in Yemen will run out of fuel in the next 2-3 weeks in some areas and will be unable to provide further humanitarian support to vulnerable populations and healthcare facilities in the affected area.

Update

May 1, 2015

•The humanitarian situation is becoming increasingly more desperate in Yemen, and the delivery of humanitarian aid and support has become more dangerous and difficult. Airstrikes, street fighting, and shelling continue in Aden, Lahj, Sana’a and Taiz. The number of injured continue to rise and fuel, water, and food are becoming ever more scarce. Airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition continue as the number of displaced has doubled since April 17th, reaching over 300,000.

•The price of fuel has reached $200/gallon in Sana’a and $400/gallon in Taiz.

•International Medical Corps supplies arrived on a UNICEF boat to Aden on April 27th. Emergency health kits and trauma kits made it safely to the UNICEF warehousem from where International Medical Corps will be distributing these kits in Aden and Lahj.

•International Medical Corps has distributed non food items (such as hospital admission beds and cleaning supplies) to Al Jamori and Al Thowra Hospitals in Sana’a.

•Laparotomy kits as well as minor and major orthopedic surgery equipment distribution has begun with the first distributions in Sana’a. Distributions will continue in Taiz, Aden, and Lahj in the coming weeks.

Update

April 24, 2015

• The humanitarian crisis has worsened, and UNICEF in Yemen reported there are 7.9 million children among the 15.9 million people – or some 60 per cent of the total population – in need of humanitarian assistance in the war-torn country. UNICEF also reports that 115 children have been killed and 172 have been injured in the past month as a result of the fighting and airstrikes.

• Fighting between militants and government forces continue on the streets, hampering aid efforts.

• International Medical Corps continues to operate in Yemen despite suffering damage to its office during the Faj Attan blast on April 20 in Sana’a.

• International Medical Corps trucked over 35,000 liters of water to hospitals in the city of Taiz.

• Our teams are currently distributing hygiene kits to internally displaced persons.

• In the coming week, International Medical Corps will be providing water to two major hospitals in Sana’a.

Airstrikes in Sana’a Injure International Medical Corps Staff and Damage Humanitarian Warehouse

April 21, 2015

Los Angeles/London – Yesterday’s coalition airstrike in Sana’a, Yemen, injured six International Medical Corps staff working in the organization’s Sana’a office and damaged one of its critical humanitarian supply warehouses containing much-needed medicines and medical and other relief supplies.

“Yesterday’s airstrike injured a number of International Medical Corps staff, and we remain extremely concerned for all of our staff in Yemen. These heroic Yemeni women and men are working around the clock to provide medical treatment to the injured, nutrition support to malnourished children and medicines and medical supplies to hospitals and clinics that now find themselves on the front lines of this fight,” said Jon Cunliffe, International Medical Corps’ Yemen Country Director. “All parties to the conflict must do more to protect civilians and allow lifesaving humanitarian relief to reach all those in need.”

International Medical Corps mobile medical teams are on the ground working to provide lifesaving medical treatment and nutrition services in some of the hardest hit locations in Yemen and is also delivering vital medications and supplies to 78 primary health facilities in Sana’a, Taiz and Lahj governorates. In addition, International Medical Corps has provided essential emergency medicines and medical supplies to 13 hospitals In Aden, Taiz, Sana’a and Harad cities, along with Lahj and Al Dhalah governorates. International Medical Corps has been working in Yemen since 2012, with three offices around the country and more than 175 local staff.

“Right now, we are distributing relief supplies we already had in country and what we’ve been able to purchase on the local market, but supplies and fuel are becoming scarce,” said Cunliffe. “The greatest limiting factor for the humanitarian effort in Yemen is safe, secure access to those in need. Once International Medical Corps is able to get additional staff and supplies into to hard-hit areas, we are prepared to provide a comprehensive response—including providing trauma and emergency health care, vital medical supplies and training for local first responders, who will help the people of Yemen now and long into the future.”