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Sana'a (Agenzia Fides) - Two years after the intensification of the armed conflict, children continue to be the most vulnerable in Yemen (see Fides 27/03/2017). Every ten minutes a child dies in the Country from preventable diseases such as malnutrition, diarrhea, or respiratory infections. Furthermore, 144 children die every day from diseases where there exists medical treatment. The war is causing the collapse of the most basic services for children. In the health sector, half of the centers are not operating, with minimal access to medical assistance in addition to the dramatic economic situation of families, which is forcing thousands of parents to choose whether to save the sick children or try to protect the healthy ones. Families eat much less and opt for less nutritious foods or skip meals.
About half a million children suffer from severe acute malnutrition, 200% more than in 2014, increasing the risk of famine. The number of extremely poor and vulnerable people has skyrocketed. About 80% of households are in debt, and at least half of the population lives on less than two dollars a day. The health system in Yemen is on the verge of collapse: an estimated 15 million men, women and children have no access to medical care. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 28/03/2017)
