A/HRC/33/38
Annex I
Additional information on political developments and
humanitarian conditions
A.
Addendum to IV/Context
Political developments
Following two previous ceasefire declarations which have failed to take hold in July and
December 2015 as a result of repeated violations by all parties, on 23 March 2016, the UN
Special Envoy Ould Cheikh Ahmed stated that a ceasefire was agreed upon from 10 April,
and that negotiations between the parties were scheduled to start on 18 April in Kuwait. 32
Although the ceasefire has been intermittently violated a number of times by both sides, it
has substantially reduced the overall level of violence. On 29 June 2016, the UN Special
Envoy announced that the talks are expected to resume on 15 July 2016.
The first few weeks of July 2015 witnessed intense fighting throughout the country and
particularly in and around Aden. On 17 July 2015, the Government of Yemen declared that
the entire Governorate of Aden had been “liberated” with the assistance of coalition troops.
The same troops continued to make military advances in Aden’s periphery and took over
the strategic Al-Anad airbase in Lahej on 3 August. By the end of August 2015, the Houthis
had abandoned their positions in the governorates of Abyan, Lahej, Al Dhale, Aden and
Shabwa. The fighting moved to new frontlines in Baidah, Hajjah, Hodeida, Jawf and Mareb
and intensified dramatically in Taizz.
Humanitarian conditions
According to OCHA, since March 2015 health facility reports estimate over 6400 deaths
and 31,000 injured over the previous 12 months. Due to damage caused by the conflict,
shortage of critical supplies and lack of health workers, over 600 health facilities have
closed. Some 220 of these facilities used to provide treatment for acute malnutrition.
The period covered by the report continued to witness massive destruction of civilian
infrastructure including houses, hospitals and schools and has the displacement of over 2.8
million people. More than 400,000 families have been forced to flee their homes in search
of safety as their homes and livelihoods were being destroyed.
OCHA reports that approximately 3 million women and children under five years require
malnutrition treatment or preventive services, 1.3 million girls and boys are acutely
malnourished, including 320,000 children who suffer from severe acute malnutrition.
According to OCHA, 7.6 million people are struggling to find enough to eat, half of them
are on the brink of starvation and 19.3 million people lack adequate access to clean water or
sanitation.
OHCHR takes note of the important contributions provided by governments to meet
Yemen’s humanitarian needs. In particular, the High Commissioner acknowledges the
generous contribution by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s King Salman’s Center which is –
32
Security Council – Chronology of Events
(http://www.securitycouncilreport.org/chronology/yemen.php).
23
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