Access to water continues to be jeopardized for millions of children in war-torn Yemen
More than 5,000 children cut off from drinking water as critical facility attacked for the third time
Attributable to Geert Cappelaere, UNICEF Regional Director in the Middle East and North Africa
AMMAN, 24 July 2018 – “UNICEF deplores in the strongest terms yet another attack on vital and lifesaving water systems in Yemen.
“A large water facility in Sa’ada, northwest of the country, came under attack this week. This is the third such attack on the same facility. More than half of the project is now damaged, cutting off 10,500 people from safe drinking water.
“Continuous attacks on water systems in Yemen are cutting off children and their families from water; increasing the likelihood of water-borne diseases spreading in the war-torn country.
“For families in Yemen, these crumbling basic services, are a matter of life and death. Access to these services is about the sheer survival of boys and girls in Yemen. If they continue to come under attack, more lives- among them many children- will be lost, unnecessarily.
“Attacks on civilian infrastructure including water systems are a violation of international humanitarian law. UNICEF calls, once again, on parties to the conflict wherever they are in Yemen and those who have influence over them, to stop all attacks and military activity on or near civilian infrastructure including water systems and facilities, schools, hospitals and clinics”.