Islamic Relief has launched a global crisis appeal in response to the rapidly worsening humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
Launched on April 10, the appeal aims to raise £10 million to support the thousands of people affected by conflict. After a recent intensification of the conflict, 560 people have been killed, almost 2,000 injured and more than 100,000 have been displaced.
“In the next couple of days fuel is set to run out, which will mean that people won’t be able to access food and water in the worst-affected areas, and thousands of injured people are in dire need of medical equipment and treatment,” says Mohamed Salah Eldin, Country Director for Islamic Relief in Yemen. “We urgently need to act before we have an acute humanitarian disaster on our hands.”
Islamic Relief’s appeal aims to reach 700,000 people affected by the conflict in the northern and southern governorates with food rations, water and sanitation, and medical supplies. The main public hospital in Sana’a and other public hospitals are overwhelmed with the number of casualties. Islamic Relief will be providing IV fluids, trauma kits and essential drugs to 30 hospitals, targeting 15,000 patients.
Islamic Relief food distributions started on April 9 in Sana’a and will continue in Haradh, Amran, Taiz Sa’da (northern governorates) and Aden, Lahj, Abyan and Albayida (southern governorates), reaching a total of 30,000 families. Families will receive a package, including flour, rice, sugar, beans, pasta, milk powder and cooking oil, which normally last between two weeks and a month. Water supplies have been badly affected in many areas, so Islamic Relief will be providing water and rehabilitating wells, benefiting approximately 10,000 households.
Islamic Relief has been working in Yemen since 2004 but was recently forced to close its office in Aden because of the current violence. Expatriate staff have been evacuated but continue to work remotely from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Kenya, Ethiopia and Sudan. Yemeni staff remain in Yemen, however, and are continuing to run our offices in Sa’dah, Hajja, Amran, Sana’a, Ma’rib and Al Hudayda .
“Struggling to get by”
An Islamic Relief staff member based in Sana’a said it was the worst situation he had ever experienced in Yemen.
“Even before the recent violence, Yemen was in crisis, but this has now moved to another level. People are living in fear of their lives and with no electricity, very little fuel and food prices escalating. They are really struggling to get by. The level of suffering is almost overwhelming.”
Although Islamic Relief has been forced to suspend its activities in Aden, it hopes to resume as soon as possible – security permitting – and has its emergency team and volunteers on standby.
“There is a massive need for medical supplies and clean water in Aden,” explains Mohamed Salah Eldin. “Our contacts on the ground are telling us there are huge queues of people everywhere desperate for water.”
Islamic Relief is also planning to reach a camp for internally displaced people that was hit by air strikes in Hajja in the west of the country this week.
“In one of the camps there is no food and water at all and very little shelter. We need to reach the people there as soon as possible,” says Mohamed Salah Eldin.
“There are major challenges to the aid effort, but as soon as it is safe, we will move into the worst affected areas. In the first phase of the programme, we will provide emergency aid with medical supplies, food and water and then we’ll move into a more long-term recovery response. The huge numbers of displaced people mean that this crisis will only get worse. And we have to be in it for the long haul.”
Support our appeal and stand in solidarity with the people in Yemen who are suffering.