Action contre la Faim colleague killed in Hodeidah’s violence

Action contre la Faim learned with deep sadness about the killing of one of its Yemeni colleague in Hodeidah last night. Action contre la Faim condemns in the strongest terms the killing of its staff and the violence impacting each day the life of innocent civilians

On March 18, at 5 :00pm (CET time), clashes and shelling has been reported in Hodeidah city. Action contre la Faim colleague, Aamnah, was on the roof of her house with her sister when shrapnel struck both of them. Aamnah was killed and her sister injured.

Aamnah worked with Action contre la Faim from 2016 to 2017 in a diarrheal treatment centre. She then joined Action contre la Faim, as hygiene promoter, in May 2018. The sessions Aamnah led were focused on educating people about the risks of waterborne diseases and how to prevent their transmission. Aamnah was an esteemed and hardworking colleague, fully dedicated in supporting the most vulnerable people.

Action contre la Faim office in Hodeidah will remain closed in the two coming days to pay respect to Aamnah and her family, and to assess the security situation.

In Hodeidah governorate, 21 health facilities are supported by the organization to treat acute malnutrition. In addition, Action contre la Faim is running the main diarrhea treatment centre in Hodeidah and ensure the safe supply of potable water, including in the port city of Hodeida where the main water systems has been destroyed by fighting.

« This tragic event shows that the situation in Yemen is far from being stabilized and violence continues to kill innocent civilians each day. It is critical that all parties to the conflict fulfil commitments of the ceasefire agreement including immediate cessation of hostilities and ensure protection of civilians,» added Véronique Andrieux.

More than 57,000 people are estimated to have been killed since 2015 and as many as 3.9 million people have been displaced in the past three years. Nearly 80 per cent of the entire population – 24,4 million people – require some form of humanitarian assistance and protection.

Humanitarian access must urgently be granted across Yemen to respond to the direct need of the population exhausted by years of conflict. In spite of the Stockholm Agreement signed last December, fighting in and around Hodeidah continues, taking a huge toll on civilians.

The international community must urgently support a political solution to the conflict in Yemen. Humanitarian aid is not enough to solve one of the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Only an inclusive political process can create suitable conditions for lasting peace and thus alleviate the suffering of Yemeni people.

Action contre la Faim works in Yemen since 2012. Programmatic locations include Lahj and Abyan in the South of the Country; Hodeida in the centre of the country and Hajja in the North of the country. In 2018, Action against Hunger treated more than 30,000 people across the country for acute malnutrition and complete hygiene promotion for more than 500,000 beneficiaries. In Yemen, Action contre la Faim works with 292 staff across the country including 19 expatriates.