By Naseem-Ur-Rehman

SANA'A, Yemen, 21 August 2009 – Sa'ada – about 240 kilometres north of the capital of Sana'a – has been embroiled in conflict since 2004, but recent days have seen this escalate.

It's estimated up to 120,000 people have been displaced by the conflict. And Yemeni children and women are facing the brunt of conflict.

"We are trying our best to reach the most vulnerable children and women who have fled their homes empty-handed in a state of panic," said UNICEF Representative Aboudou Karimou Adjibade. "We are not going to be daunted by the gravity of the situation and will reach out to the children and women who are in crying need of essential supplies."

In response, UNICEF dispatched three truckloads of essential supplies to alleviate the suffering of new wave of internally displaced families.

Urgent humanitarian assistance

More than 550 displaced families have been registered as requiring urgent humanitarian assistance.

"For now we are surviving on the generosity of the local population but for how long can that go on?" the head of a displaced family told UNICEF.

A UNICEF convoy carrying essential supplies, such as hygiene kits, water filters, jerry cans, blankets, soap and daily items is on its way to the troubled region and will be distributed today.

Children are vulnerable

Since the conflict began, children have become even more vulnerable to disease, malnutrition and violence. Lack of access to food, shelters, social support and health care are the major risks faced by children of Sa'ada.

The latest flare-up in the conflict means these measures, as well as efforts to provide safe drinking water and adequate sanitation, immunization and therapeutic feeding centers have been stalled.