Yemen war makes reaching assistance too dangerous for many vulnerable individuals, according to a Friday alert from the UN refugee agency, UNHCR. The agency reported that over 280,000 people have been displaced by fighting in Yemen, creating a rapidly worsening humanitarian crisis. Tens of thousands of refugees and asylum seekers are struggling to survive as escalating insecurity, economic collapse, depleting resources, and severe humanitarian access constraints leave them with nowhere to turn. Despite intensifying conflict between Government forces and Houthi opposition fighters that escalated last month and ended a four-year ceasefire, thousands continue to risk dangerous sea crossings from the Horn of Africa to Yemen, as stated by UNHCR spokesperson Matthew Saltmarsh.
Worsening Conditions at Kharaz Camp
Aid teams are particularly worried about the situation in Kharaz refugee camp, situated in the southwestern governorate of Lahj and close to the front line. The camp provides shelter for approximately 9,500 refugees from Ethiopia and Somalia within a Government-controlled area. Although no refugee casualties have been verified so far, nearby shelling has disrupted services and led to movement restrictions for camp residents who had already previously fled conflict. While UNHCR partners have distributed food inside the camp in coordination with local authorities, and health assistance and water provision continue with significant difficulty, most other services are on hold. Schools are suspended, legal and documentation services are interrupted, and rising prices of fuel and staple foods make it increasingly difficult for refugees to cover their basic needs. Matthew Saltmarsh noted that while assistance is moved in when access allows, it has been challenging, and many displaced people have been unable to reach supply locations because it is too dangerous.
Supply Chain Shocks and Relief Efforts
The significant increase in humanitarian needs has coincided with severe supply chain shocks in the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab El-Mandeb Strait linked to the US-Iran war, while available resources are falling short. Currently, the agency’s appeal for Yemen is only 19 per cent funded, and operations in Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Sudan are among the most exposed to disrupted trade and shipping in the Red Sea. In a positive development, the agency secured pro bono transport support for 11 containers of emergency relief items from Dubai to Yemen, although shifting security conditions and logistical constraints are challenging those delivery efforts. Matthew Saltmarsh added that those 11 containers should arrive tomorrow, bringing 3,000 relief kits to over 20,000 people in Yemen.
Source: Cosmo News Desk
