As fighting continues in Sa'ada governorate, International Medical Corps' team in Yemen is assembling its emergency response to the conflict that has left more than 100,000 people on the move as of September 3, according to the World Food Programme. Lack of access to vulnerable populations and mounting reports of continued fighting are grave concerns for International Medical Corps as it prepares its response that will focus on providing primary health care, nutrition, water and sanitation, and other services to internally displaced persons and other vulnerable Sa'ada residents.

"The International Medical Corps team is focusing on services that will help communities in Sa'ada recover and reestablish coping mechanisms," says Peter Medway, director of operations for International Medical Corps UK and leader of the emergency response to Yemen. "With food and fuel prices rising and public health services scarcely available, the residents of Sa'ada are not only in immediate need of medical care, but also of clean water, food, and sanitation facilities, as diarrheal disease and malnutrition are increasing risks, particularly for the displaced."

Residents of Sa'ada have gone for more than a month now without water or electricity and face severe shortages of food and fuel amid rising prices. Many of the main health needs remain unmet and services are extremely limited due to severe insecurity. Diarrheal disease, acute respiratory infections, malnutrition, malaria, and skin disease are among the most common diseases reported.

"Our emergency response team will focus on making sure that primary health care is available to as many people as we can possibly reach," says Medway. "They will also provide nutrition services, with a focus on children younger than five years old, and clean water and hygiene education in an effort to prevent some of the most commonly reported health issues."

The majority of internally displaced - 35,000 - are in Sa'ada Town, while thousands more have resettled in Baqim in northern Sa'ada Governorate (15,000), Haradh in Hajjah Governorate (12,500), Amran Governorate(28,000), and Al Jawf Governorate (4,000). According to UNICEF, as many as 75,000 children have been affected by the conflict - 55,000 of which are displaced. This influx adds to the tens of thousands of people already living in these areas, straining scarce resources. International Medical Corps is concerned that the situation of the displaced and the residents will continue to deteriorate as there is no effective end to the conflict in sight.

Since its inception 25 years ago, International Medical Corps' mission has been to relieve the suffering of those impacted by war, natural disaster and disease, by delivering vital health care services that focus on training. This approach of helping people help themselves is critical to returning devastated populations to self-reliance. For more information visit our website at www.imcworldwide.org.