Yemen could have more than one million people infected with the coronavirus

The United Nations launched a new appeal to assist Yemen in calling for international support in the face of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the increase in attacks and the worsening humanitarian situation. The secretary general, António Guterres, has indicated that although the reported cases of COVID-19 are scarcely more than 2000, experts from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine estimate that there are already a million people infected with the coronavirus in the Arab country. 

António Guterres has added that, in this scenario, the mortality rate would reach 30 percent owing to the destruction of health facilities during the conflict, as calculated by John Hopkins University. 

Guterres also stated that the armed conflict in the country, which pits the Arab coalition against the pro-Iranian Hutu militia, has caused numerous victims among the civilian population. In addition, an estimated 14,500 migrants are stranded in Yemen and many of them do not have access to the food and health assistance provided by UN humanitarian agencies and their partners on the ground. The UN head has called for a ceasefire despite the escalation of violence. He noted that August was the deadliest month so far this year and detailed that one in four civilian victims died or were injured inside the house.

In this context, he again urged all the players to cooperate with the United Nations special envoy to that country and to "commit themselves in good faith and without conditions to the efforts to reach agreement on the Joint Declaration". Guterres said that the declaration would include a national ceasefire and economic and humanitarian measures to build confidence and allow the political process to resume. He also said that the UN would continue to support the implementation of the understandings already reached in the country. 

Furthermore, the Secretary-General has reiterated his concern about the cargo ship Safer, which has been anchored off the west coast of Yemen since 2015 as a fuel depot, as it has not been maintained for five years and could have a spill, explosion or fire with catastrophic humanitarian and environmental consequences for the country and the region". 

Among the most serious consequences in the event of a vessel incident would be the closure for several months of the port of Hodeida, the entry point for food supplies for millions of people. Guterres has called on international donors to fulfil their promises to fund the UN response plan in view of the fact that they have only disbursed 30 percent of the amount requested for humanitarian operations and stressed that this is the lowest level of resources at this point in the year. 

Finally, the Secretary-General has warned that vital assistance programmes are being closed down and stressed the danger of a "devastating famine" in the country if the money does not arrive soon. "Now is the time to help the people of Yemen," he concluded.