A/HRC/45/6 the Houthis also started in September 2019. In response to the risk associated with COVID19, in March 2020 the Secretary-General called for a global ceasefire. While the coalition declared a unilateral ceasefire in April, it was not followed by an end to hostilities. 21. Access restrictions imposed by the parties on humanitarian agencies and on food, medicine and fuel supplies, the further deterioration or destruction of water, sanitation and health infrastructure, flooding, locusts, the COVID-19 pandemic, non-payment of salaries, currency depreciation and donor fatigue all further exacerbated the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, nearly 80 per cent of the population remain in need of humanitarian aid and protection. The World Food Programme estimates that over 20 million people are food insecure, with malnutrition disproportionately affecting marginalized and at-risk groups. Over 3.5 million internally displaced persons in Yemen, most of them women and children, face acute vulnerabilities, including 1.5 million in the Ma’rib Governorate alone, who lack access to basic necessities and education. 22. The COVID-19 outbreak has occurred when barely half of the health facilities in Yemen are operational, and those are underequipped to cope with the disease. Additional constraints include the compromised immunity of many, owing to malnutrition, successive outbreaks of infectious disease, such as cholera and dengue, and the particular vulnerability of specific groups, such as internally displaced persons, migrants and refugees, owing to displacement and poor access to sanitation services. Added to this are the gravely inadequate measures adopted by the Government of Yemen, the de facto authorities and the southern transitional council, poor data collection and reported attempts to conceal information regarding infection rates. The Group of Eminent Experts has repeatedly called for the release of detainees who are at increased risk of infection. 23. The current lack of funding for international humanitarian aid compounds this situation. The high-level pledging event held in Riyadh in June 2020 saw donors pledge only $1.35 billion of the $2.41 billion needed to cover essential humanitarian activities between June and December 2020. This occurred while, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, since mid-April, 31 of 41 United Nations programmes critical to fighting COVID-19 have been reduced or have closed for lack of funding. 24. In July 2020, the Houthis reportedly sent a letter approving the deployment of a United Nations technical team to assess the Safer oil tanker, located off the coast of Ra’s Isa terminal in the Red Sea, amid renewed warnings from the United Nations of an environmental catastrophe should there be a spill. 25. Notwithstanding the strong recommendations by the Group of Eminent Experts in its previous reports, third States, including Canada, France, Iran (Islamic Republic of), the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America, continued their support of parties to the conflict, including through arms transfers, thereby helping to perpetuate the conflict. V. Findings on violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law A. 1. Attacks affecting civilians or civilian objects Coalition air strikes 26. In its previous mandates, the Group of Eminent Experts analysed a number of coalition air strikes given their apparently disproportionate impact on civilians. It raised concerns with coalition processes for target selection and execution of air strikes, and noted a consistent pattern of harm to civilians. During this mandate, the Group verified a further four air strikes or series of air strikes involving similar failures to take all measures necessary to protect civilians and civilian objects. 5