Humanitarian conditions in Yemen shocking: UN

SANAA: UN aid chief Mark Lowcock on Saturday voiced alarm at the “shocking” humanitarian conditions in conflict-hit Yemen and called on warring parties to respect international law.

Concluding a five-day mission, his first to Yemen, the UN head of humanitarian affairs and emergency relief said the war in the Arab nation should end through a political process.

“I came to Yemen to better understand the deteriorating humanitarian crisis, including the fastest-growing cholera epidemic the world has ever seen, the world’s largest food insecurity and conditions of widespread population displacement,” Lowcock said. “It’s been shocking to see the terrible impact of this man-made conflict,” he told reporters before leaving Sanaa.

“The UN calls on all parties to uphold the highest standards of international humanitarian law and respect human rights with respect to everyone including detainees and journalists,” he added.

Lowcock is scheduled to speak at a one-day high level meeting on the humanitarian response to the Yemen crisis in Riyadh on Sunday.

During his visit, Lowcock held talks in Aden, where the internationally recognised government is based, as well as visiting several other areas.

He said he urged officials in Aden and Sanaa to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches all those who need it.