UNICEF official warns of return of cholera epidemic in Yemen

SANAA, July 29 (YPA) – UNICEF has confirmed that more than 8 milion Yemeni children do not have access to safe drinking water and sanitation.

UNICEF Representative in Yemen, Meritxell Relaño, said on organization’s Twitter website on Sunday that, 8 million Yemeni children do not regularly have access to clean drinking water, sanitation services and hygiene.

Relaño said this will provide a suitable environment for outbreaks of diseases, adding Yemen can not tolerate more severe cholera and acute watery diarrhea.

Relaño reported on Saturday that 1,800,000 Yemeni children suffer from general malnutrition, including 400,000 malnourished children under the age of five who suffer from severe acute malnutrition.

This comes because of the ongoing of the coalition warplanes to target several drinking projects in several areas, the latest of which was the drinking water project in Hodeidah with two air raids.

The Ministry of Water and Environment revealed at a press conference held on Saturday in Hodeidah that the water and environment sector inflicted losses exceeded “557 million dollars” as a result of direct bombing by the coalition aircraft for wells and water projects in the provinces, districts and villages of Yemen for more than three years.

Sameera Hassn