GENEVA / YEMEN DISPLACEMENT

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said intensified hostilities across western and central Yemen continue to force tens of thousands of people to flee their homes, with many now struggling to cope in abysmal conditions. UNTV CH

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:31
• Production Date: 10 March 2017
• Asset Language: English
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES - UNHCR
• Subject Topical: CONFLICT SITUATION; DISPLACED PERSONS; HUMANITARIAN CRISIS
• Geographic Subject: YEMEN
• MAMS Id: 1845897
• Parent Id: 1845897
• Alternate Title: unifeed170310b

Description

STORY: GENEVA / YEMEN DISPLACEMENT
TRT: 01:31
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 10 MARCH 2017, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

Shotlist

RECENT - GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

1. Wide shot, Palais des Nations exterior

10 MARCH 2017, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

2. Wide shot, press briefing room
3. SOUNDBITE (English) William Spindler, Spokesperson, United Nations High Commission for Refugee (UNHCR):
“Intensified hostilities across western and central Yemen continue to force tens of thousands of people to flee their homes, with many now struggling to cope in abysmal conditions. More than 62,000 have been reported to be displaced within the last six weeks.”
4. Med shot, journalists
5. SOUNDBITE (English) William Spindler, Spokesperson, United Nations High Commission for Refugee (UNHCR):
“Most of those displaced are in dire need of assistance and have found shelter in communal and public spaces, including schools and health facilities, whilst others are living in unfinished buildings or even out in the open. A number of those displaced, including many children, have been reported as suffering from malnutrition, while others are distressed and in need of psycho-social assistance. Overcrowding and unsanitary conditions in areas of displacement are also leading to outbreaks of diseases, including skin ailments.”
6. Close up, journalist typing and microphone
7. SOUNDBITE (English) William Spindler, Spokesperson, United Nations High Commission for Refugee (UNHCR):
“With international support for the humanitarian response in Yemen severely lacking, UNHCR is immensely concerned about being able to respond to new and ongoing displacement across Yemen. With our 2017 budget for Yemen so far funded at only 7 per cent, available funding is only sufficient to deal with urgent emergency needs.”
8. Various shots, journalists

Storyline

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said intensified hostilities across western and central Yemen continue to force tens of thousands of people to flee their homes, with many now struggling to cope in abysmal conditions.

Speaking to reporters in Geneva today (10 Mar), UNHCR spokesperson William Spindler said more than 62,000 people had reportedly been displaced within the last six weeks. UNHCR said recent fighting in Taiz alone has left more than 48,400 people displaced with some 35,226 people fleeing within the governorate or to neighbouring Hudaydah.

Spindler stressed that most of those displaced were in dire need of assistance and have found shelter in communal and public spaces, including schools and health facilities, while others were living in “unfinished buildings or even out in the open.” He added that a number displaced of the displaced, including many children, had reportedly been suffering from malnutrition and some were in of psycho-social assistance. He said, “Overcrowding and unsanitary conditions in areas of displacement are also leading to outbreaks of diseases, including skin ailments.” UNHCR said it was providing over 14,000 newly-displaced people from Taizz with shelter and relief items in the districts of Hudaydah and Ibb.

UNHCR said the recent escalation of fighting in Dhamar Governorate on the border of the capital Sana’a had also left more than 13,902 people newly displaced. UNHCR said several areas to which people have fled remained inaccessible adding that the total number of those displaced may be much higher. The Agency said main roads to the district remained blocked and significant damage to civilian infrastructure had also been reported.

Spindler said his Agency was desperately in need of funds to help those who have been displaced. He said, “With international support for the humanitarian response in Yemen severely lacking, UNHCR is immensely concerned about being able to respond to new and ongoing displacement across Yemen.” Spindler added that UNHCR’s 2017 budget for Yemen funded at only seven percent so far and available funding was “only sufficient to deal with urgent emergency needs.”