UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- The vast majority of at least 8,000 people displaced by escalating hostilities in Yemen's oil-rich Marib governorate in recent weeks are women and children, a UN spokesman said on Wednesday.
"This comes on top of already high levels of displacement and humanitarian needs in that governorate," said Stephane Dujarric, the chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. "Displacement to and within Marib accounted for two-thirds of all displacements in Yemen last year."
The UN and its humanitarian partners are scaling up support and planning. Newly displaced households are receiving food, hygiene kits, health care and other assistance. However, a worsening of the situation could quickly overwhelm existing capacities and force hundreds of thousands to flee.
"The United Nations continues to call for an immediate de-escalation of violence in Marib and the rest of the country and obviously encourages all parties in Yemen to redouble their efforts to support the work of Martin Griffiths in achieving a political solution and a nationwide ceasefire as soon as possible," Dujarric said.
Griffiths, the secretary-general's special envoy to Yemen, has been working to end the conflict between rebel and government forces since his appointment three years ago.
The Yemen high-level pledging event on March 1 is a crucial opportunity for the international community to support the humanitarian response and show solidarity with Yemen's people, the spokesman said. About 3.85 billion U.S. dollars is needed to provide humanitarian assistance and protection for 16 million people in Yemen this year. Enditem
