United Nations has launched appeal to raise whopping $4.2 billion in aid to help alleviate humanitarian crisis in Yemen. It is largest ever appeal made by UN. It comes after the country has been ravaged by years of war and is on brink of famine. The UN said it needs the money to help over 19 million people in the war-torn nation. It estimates that nearly quarter of million Yemenis are suffering from malnutrition and are close to dying from starvation. The UN said that around 80 per cent of population needed urgent humanitarian assistance and protection. A UN spokesperson said suffering of the people in Yemen has reached scale not seen in living memory.
The UN announced it had finally gained access to food stored at warehouses in Red Sea port city of Hudaydah. There is enough food stored there to feed around 3.7 million people for month. The port has been inaccessible for past six months because of heavy fighting in area. The UN was worried because food was at risk of rotting. The UN said government forces and Houthi rebels could start to withdraw from around city soon. It added: "It has really been horrific year for millions and millions of people in Yemen, who are literally balancing on edge of famine and starvation. They need massive amounts of aid, water, sanitation, and education for their children."
