SANA’A, 18 September 2015- Vital water supplies intended to help 11,000 people in the worst conflict-affected areas of Yemen were destroyed yesterday in the bombing of a warehouse used by the agency for humanitarian supplies in Dhamar, south of Yemen’s capital, Sana’a.

“UNICEF is appalled by the destruction of these humanitarian supplies – which included jerry cans, water filters and water tanks. Such attacks only harm civilians, and cannot be justified.

“Across Yemen, since March this year, at least 466 children have been killed and another 658 were injured as a result of the intensive fighting.

“Attacks on civilians and infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, bridges and roads have become a common feature of the armed conflict in Yemen.

“Since the escalation of the conflict in March 2015, UNICEF was able to verify that 41 schools and 61 hospitals have been attacked or damaged as a result of the fighting.

“In Tai’z, where fighting has escalated in recent weeks, partners have reported that UNICEF humanitarian supplies, including medicines for children, have been confiscated by armed groups.

“UNICEF calls on all parties to the conflict in Yemen to refrain from attacking civilians and civilian infrastructure in accordance with international humanitarian law. All civilians including children should be protected at all times”.

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For more information, please contact:

Rajat Madhok, UNICEF Yemen, Tel: +967 712223001, rmadhok@unicef.org

Juliette Touma, UNICEF Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa, Tel: +962 79 867 4628, jtouma@unicef.org

Najwa Mekki, UNICEF New York, Tel: +1212 326 7448, nmekki@unicef.org