UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Hostilities in Yemen are driving people from their homes and supply shortages are putting health care under strain in Taiz governorate, UN humanitarians said on Friday.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said more than 256,000 people have been displaced since the start of August, when a new round of hostilities broke out.
The UN Refugee Agency said shelter is the most pressing need among newly displaced families, followed by food and cash assistance. Across five governorates, more than 2,000 displaced families have no shelter.
The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that in Taiz governorate, shortages of fuel, oxygen, medicines and medical supplies threaten life-saving health services. In Taiz City alone, 42 health facilities report acute shortages, putting emergency surgery, dialysis, intensive care, and maternal and newborn services at risk.
The WHO said emergency medicines have reached Al-Thawra Hospital, a major hospital in Taiz City, while additional medical supplies remain in Aden, awaiting delivery to conflict-affected areas as soon as access allows.
OCHA said that despite severe access restrictions, humanitarian partners are working to keep essential services going. Since August, they have reached more than 188,000 displaced people, or three in five displaced households, with food, hygiene kits and emergency cash.
OCHA said that safe, sustained and unimpeded humanitarian access is urgently needed so that essential supplies and life-saving assistance can reach people in need.
