Children in Yemen bear brunt of brutal war: UNICEF

3/29/2016 6:08:52 AM

(MENAFN- The Peninsula) A Houthi follower stands betweenYemen's national flags as he takes photos with his phone during a rally marking one year of Saudi-led air strikes inYemen's capital Sanaa March 26 2016. REUTERS/ Mohamed al-Sayaghi

By Stephanie Nebehay

GENEVA: Hundreds of thousands of children in Yemen face life-threatening malnutrition and millions lack access to health care or clean water due to the year-old war there the U.N. Children’s Fund said on Tuesday.

A UNICEF report also said all sides in the war had

“exponentially increased” the dragooning of child soldiers with 848 documented cases - including boys as young as 10 - forced to fight.

Tensions appear to be easing between the Iran-allied Houthis who control most of northern Yemen and Saudi-led forces after a year of war over 6200 deaths and a humanitarian crisis in the Arab world’s poorest country.

“On average at least six children have been killed or injured every day” said the report “Childhood on the Brink”. UNICEF has confirmed 934 children directly killed and 1356 injured but says they are “only a tip of the iceberg”.

“Basic services and infrastructure in Yemen are on the verge of total collapse” it said noting attacks on schools hospitals and the water and sanitation system.

The United Nations said last week the warring parties had agreed to a cessation of hostilities from April 10 and peace talks from April 18.

“We’re hoping that the truce kicks in on the 10th and will allow parents and families to come and access health services and other services” Julien Harneis UNICEF’s Representative in Yemen told Reuters by telephone from Sana’a.

“In Sa’ada in the last week there has definitely been a reduction of fighting in the border area. In Sana’a we have seen fewer (Saudi-led) air strikes” he said.

Nearly half of Yemen’s 22 provinces on the verge of famine and over 13 million people need food aid the U.N.’s World Food Programme said last week.

UNICEF delivers nutritional supplies and vaccines against measles polio and other childhood diseases in the country of 24 million but it is not enough Harneis said.

“We’ve got an increase in both severe acute malnutrition and chronic malnutrition” he said.

The report said an estimated 320000 children risk severe acute malnutrition which can leave a child vulnerable to deadly respiratory infections pneumonia and water-borne diseases.

Nearly 10 million children require humanitarian aid to prevent a further deterioration. Chronic malnutrition can stunt growth and development.

“UNICEF estimates that nearly 10000 children under 5 years may have died in the past year from preventable diseases” it said citing lower vaccination rates and declines in treatment.

REUTERS

Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.