Yemen, the world's worst humanitarian crisis

The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen announced that half of the major United Nations programmes in Yemen could be suspended or reduced. The Arab nation is experiencing the world's largest humanitarian crisis with nearly 80 per cent of the population - more than 24 million people - dependent on some form of humanitarian aid and protection.

The people of Yemen have lost some of the support of the United Nations to protect them. Currently, 12 of the 38 major UN programmes are closed or have been drastically reduced and between August and September 20 of the projects will face further reductions or closures.

The news was released just as the UN was celebrating World Humanitarian Day, and it was the UN's resident coordinator, Lise Grande, who lamented the tragic news in Yemen on this day.

"We have no other choice," said Grande. "We have a moral obligation to warn the world that millions of Yemenis will suffer and could die because we don't have the funds to move forward". The UN humanitarian coordinator in Yemen stressed that the impact of the lack of funds is alarming.

Thus, last April, food rations were halved for more than eight million people in the north of the country and humanitarian agencies were forced to interrupt reproductive health services in 140 centres.

In 275 centres specializing in the treatment of people with cholera and other infectious diseases, health services were cut or reduced. Almost 10,000 frontline health workers were cut off, and supplies needed to treat trauma patients, who will almost certainly die without immediate treatment, were suspended.

Without immediate resources, water and sanitation services will be cut in half and the supply of essential drugs and supplies to 189 hospitals and 2,500 primary care centers, which account for half of the country's health facilities, will be halved.

Thousands of children are likely to die from both disease and malnutrition, and at least 70 per cent of schools are likely to close or operate at minimal levels just before the start of the school year in the coming weeks. In addition to this alarming situation, tens of thousands of displaced people who have nowhere to go will be forced to live in inhumane conditions.

Of the $2.41 billion needed for essential humanitarian activities in Yemen until the end of the year, the international donor community only pledged $1.35 billion at the high-level pledging meeting in Riyadh on 2 June, leaving a budget gap of more than $1 billion.