Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake on the Situation in Yemen

NEW YORK (November 9, 2017) – “Yesterday, Mark Lowcock, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, called on all parties to the conflict to provide safe, rapid, unhindered humanitarian access to people in need, through all ports and airports, including Hudaydah port and Sana’a airport.  

“The recent closure of all ports and airports is making an already catastrophic situation even worse.

“Today, nearly 400,000 children in Yemen are at risk of death from severe acute malnutrition. To potentially add tens of thousands more children to this toll – tens of thousands more personal catastrophes for children and grieving parents – is simply inhuman.

“Children are not responsible for the conflict and carnage created by the adults. But they are the first victims.

“We must ask all the parties: What kind of Yemen do the ultimate victors expect to gain as they destroy it?”
 

Multimedia assets available for download here: https://weshare.unicef.org/Package/2AM40805FSQX

For more information about UNICEF and its work for children in Yemen visit http://uni.cf/yemencrisis
 

About UNICEF
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) works in more than 190 countries and territories to put children first. UNICEF has helped save more children’s lives than any other humanitarian organization, by providing health care and immunizations, clean water and sanitation, nutrition, education, emergency relief and more. UNICEF USA supports UNICEF's work through fundraising, advocacy and education in the United States. Together, we are working toward the day when no children die from preventable causes and every child has a safe and healthy childhood. For more information, visit www.unicefusa.org.

For more information, contact:
Sophie Aziakou, UNICEF USA, 917.720.1397, saziakou@unicefusa.org