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THE UNITED NATIONS warned today that fuel supplies needed to run Yemen’s hospital generators and pump clean water will run out in less than three weeks unless the Saudi-led coalition lifts its blockade.
The dire forecast came as Yemen battles one of the world’s worst outbreaks of cholera, with nearly one million people infected. Some 2,200 people have died.
Adding to the woes of aid workers on the ground, stocks of diphtheria vaccines will be emptied in two weeks unless aid deliveries are once again allowed in the country, UN spokesman Farhan Haq said.
The Saudi-led military coalition shut down Yemen’s sea and air ports as well as borders on 6 November in response to a missile attack by the Iran-backed Huthi rebels near Riyadh.
UN aid chief Mark Lowcock warned last week that unless the blockade was lifted, Yemen will face “the largest famine the world has seen for many decades, with millions of victims.”
A week after hearing that dire warning, the UN Security Council appeared powerless to push the Saudi-led coalition to lift its blockade of humanitarian aid.
“There are still huge problems and there has not been any progress on the… open humanitarian access through the ports of Hodeida and airport of Sanaa,” both held by the rebels, said Olof Skoog, the Swedish ambassador to the United Nations.
Sweden, a non-permanent council member, called for a council meeting last week on the crisis, but Skoog did not indicate whether he will seek another meeting on the aid blockade.
“We are concerned that not enough has happened,” he said. “We’ll see what the next step will be on that.”
The United Nations has listed Yemen as the world’s number one humanitarian crisis, with 17 million people in need of food, seven million of whom are at risk of famine.
Last week, Egypt, a non-permanent council member close to Saudi Arabia, circulated a draft statement that condemned the missile attack on Riyadh but made no mention of the aid blockade.
Diplomats criticised the proposed statement as lacking balance and said they did not expect it to be endorsed by the council.
UN aid officials meanwhile have stepped up their appeals.
“The humanitarian impact of what is happening here right now is unimaginable,” said the UN’s aid coordinator in Yemen, Jamie McGoldrick, this week.
The World Food Programme has warned that current stocks of rice will run out in 111 days and wheat in 97 days, while the prices of basic goods have skyrocketed.
Saudi Arabia and its allies intervened in Yemen in March 2015 to push back the Iran-backed Huthi rebels who control the capital Sanaa, and restore the government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi to power.
So the gang of 4 have decided which Irish citizens will be disadvantaged for 2014.
The Irish have let them do what they want
What would you suggest? A giveaway budget?
Kerry. Everyone knows which citizens will be taking the pain yet again! They’re just trying to figure out the best way to force more and more of us out. It’s only a matter of time before they offer to pay us to disappear.
Kerry, only 2014?!
2015/16/17….50 Ect ect
Oreily, a giveaway budget, only in the run up to elections so they can ‘buy’ the votes.
Rodrigo, let’s not make any cuts and just borrow more…
O’Reilly lets start at the top and work down instead of the other way round for a change
How about they cut there own wages pensions exspenes like milage to drive to work dry cleaning hotels and lunch money and a hell of a lot more. I have to drive 40 miles each way to work six days a week all I get is a massive petrol bill
Ryan, if our finances are such that allow it at that time , then why not? But you’ll be rejecting any benefits in that giveaway budget then? You’ll hand it back to revenue saying you don’t want it?
@OReilly
in other words Ryan is correct….
Oreily by benefits I take it you mean the increase in USC, pension levy, property tax, broadcasting tax, and all other tax increases FG have implemented to pay unsecured private banking debt?
O’Reilly 20% of our revenue in 2014 will be going to pay interest on our “bailout” maybe we could suggest to our partners we will only be using 10% to pay off the cost of the banks and use the rest to generate work in Ireland and ensure our ill or needy in our society are not further disadvantaged?
I feel your pain citizens,i feel your pain!
Spot on Sean… True leaders lead from the front…
Thanks Tony
Its called Structural Reform problem is there is not a hope it will happen….they are too many pigs with their noses in the trough
sorry
*there
It will still be a tough budget, Mr Noonon, our finance minister, solemnly declares to the people. God damn, it must be so easy to tighten other people’s belts – especially when you don’t have to tighten your own!
I hope they will be doing a serious review of their own expenses as a cost saving measure.
Don’t suggest that, they’ll just increase them.
I think they will deserve a little break after all this work. Sack the lot of them !!!!
The main topic of debate will be whether to give us a kick in the nuts or a punch in the stomach.
C’mon pay rise!
Looks like they are going to go for the “benefits” for the disabled. The free electricity units and phone line rental are pretty crucial to the survival of anyone trying to live on disability. I had to attempt it years ago after an accident and it was brutal. If they do take these away it is going to drop a lot of peoples lives into misery and further debt. It means that disabled people will have to find €50 a month or more to fund the bankers and that can only do one thing..increase suicide rates. Many disabled people have to deal with physical pain and to inflict more financial pain on them is not the mark of a civilised society. A wipeout of TD’s expenses would be much more humane.
Booooooooo!
I will save the lads some time. Here is what you should do lads:
Increase taxes on ordinary citizens
Save money by reducing services to vulnerable people
Look after banks/wealthy/yourselves/your mates
Sorted!
Budget adjustment of €2.5bn? Same cost as mental health difficulties to the economy annually, which we pointed out two years ago! http://t.co/xbNNtS9G3J Mental Health Reform has made a number of cost-effective and proven effective recommendations to all relevant Govt departments – http://t.co/lJnSXi0wv6 …
have your say