Middle East and North Africa: Crises in Focus - An overview of Humanitarian Needs in the Region [EN/AR]

INFOGRAPHIC

from UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

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57.6 million people in need of humanitarian assistance

Humanitarian Challenges

Protection

The region's conflicts have taken a severe toll on civilians' lives and fundamental rights, with parties to conflict frequently violating international humanitarian and human rights law.
Direct or indiscriminate targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure has resulted in death, injury and deprivation. In Syria, more than 250,000 people have been killed, including well overtensofthousandsof children. In Yemen, health facilities report over 32,000 casualties in Iraq, more than 20,000 civilians have suffered from violence by armed groups.

Access

Violence continues to pose obstacles to safe and unhindered access to people in need. In Syria, over four million people live in hard- to-reach areas. In Iraq, many vulnerable minority groups are cut off from assistance in areas under ISIL control. In Yemen, parties to the conflict deny access and impose bureaucratic obstacles. The lack of humanitarian access prevents the delivery of urgent life-saving assistance, further exacerbating people's needs. Humanitarian workers are also often targeted, with over 90 aid workers attacked across the region in 2015.

Displacement

Increasing numbers of people are fleeing violence and instability, abandoning their homes and communities to seek refuge. Displaced households often lack adequate shelter, access to basic services and commodities and are exposed to security risks, including trafficking, exploitation and criminal activity. Displaced children and young people are losing years of education and social stability, with a devastating impact on their well-being and future prospects. As displacement becomes more protracted, there has also been a marked increase in the vulnerability of host communities.

Basic needs

Millions of people in the region require immediate, life saving assistance to ensure their basic survival. In many parts of the MENA region, conflict has curtailed food supplies, increasing the risk and incidence of food insecurity and malnutrition,particularly among children.

Health facilities have been damaged, lack medical supplies and are unable to function at full capacity, leaving millions of people without essential healthcare, including treatment for chronic diseases. Access to As safe drinking water and sanitation has also been severely impacted, heightening the risk of waterborne diseases.

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