By Dr. Luay Shabaneh, UNFPA’s Director for the Arab region

Cairo, 14 November 2018 – UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, fears that among the 10,000 pregnant women caught in the fighting in Hodeidah City, the lives of an estimated 1,500 who are likely to encounter complications during pregnancy and childbirth might be at risk as the city’s only hospital that can provide emergency care becomes inaccessible.

Health facilities across Hodeida are closed or functioning at minimum capacity, which is straining Al-Thawra Hospital, the governorate’s major neonatal care facility that witnesses some 400 to 500 deliveries per month, including more than 200 caesarian sections.

UNFPA is leading efforts to provide immediate humanitarian assistance with a focus on essential reproductive health supplies, life-saving medicines and incentives for health staff performing safe deliveries and caesarian sections.

UNFPA remains committed to supporting the Yemeni people and working to prevent this unfolding humanitarian catastrophe. 

We call on all parties to the conflict to respect their legal obligations under International Humanitarian Law to ensure the protection of health workers, patients, health facilities, and communities and to facilitate humanitarian access to areas where people need our help the most.