SAVE THE CHILDREN STATEMENT ON HODEIDAH
SAVE THE CHILDREN STATEMENT ON HODEIDAH:
Even a temporary closure of the port at Hodeidah would have devastating consequences for families who live in the Houthi-controlled north and centre of the country. The impact will fall hardest on children. More than two million children in Yemen aged below five are already suffering from acute malnutrition – in the event of a sustained attack on Hodeidah, we may see this number increase and for some of the most food-insecure areas to be pushed into famine.
Hodeida’s children are already some of the hardest hit by the conflict, where this year alone we expect more than 98,000 children aged below five will suffer from severe acute malnutrition. In the event the port is damaged or temporarily out of action, the resulting displacement and cut in food supplies means many more children could die.
The complete closure of the port would lead to a devastating cut in the humanitarian and commercial supply chain just when it’s needed most. Food imports have already reached the lowest levels since the conflict started and the price of basic commodities has risen by a third.
Prior to the crisis Hodeidah was responsible for 70-80% of all imports of food, fuel and medicine into the country. No other Yemeni port has the capacity to cover the gap in imports should Hodeidah close. Yemeni children will be left without a vital lifeline.
An additional 340,000 people could be displaced should Hodeidah come under attack. The fighting is also likely to be protracted and the possible use of explosive weapons in densely populated urban areas will have a disproportionate impact on the civilian population.
This would be catastrophic for those living in the city as well as people in the rest of the country who rely on Hodeidah port for life-saving and life-sustaining supplies.
The closure of Hodeidah port must be avoided. Save the Children calls on all parties to the conflict to ensure the port is fully functional and able to handle imports of life-saving aid as well as everyday goods like petrol and food.
ENDS
