On 22 August, an airstrike struck a house in Ad Durayhimi district, south of Al Hudaydah city, killing four civilians and injuring two more. The next day, on 23 August, an airstrike killed 27 more civilians, including 22 children, four women and a driver, in Ad Durayhimi district. The women and children were reportedly fleeing fighting in Al-Kawei village when their vehicle was struck.

“Just two weeks ago, dozens of innocent children were killed near Sa’ada, and tens more injured,” said Ms. Lise Grande, Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen.

“And now this. What is happening in Yemen is unthinkable. It is time for everyone to wake up to the reality and human cost of this terrible war and to work together to bring hostilities to an end.”

“The UN family offers its deepest condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones,” said Ms. Grande, speaking on behalf of the all of the UN agencies providing assistance and support in Yemen. “These incidents must be independently and impartially investigated so we can all know the truth.”

Yemen is the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. More than 22 million people, 75 per cent of the population, requires some form of humanitarian assistance and protection. Since 2015, more than 28,000 Yemenis have been either killed or injured and countless civilians have died from preventable causes including malnutrition, disease and poor health. At least one child is dying every 10 minutes from causes linked to the war.

The UN and partners are requesting USD 2.96 billion through the 2018 Humanitarian Response Plan to support millions of people in need across the country. To date, USD 1.90 billion, 64 per cent, has been received.