Sana'a - Saba:
Yemen commemorated World Population Day on July 11.
The National Population Council in Sana'a explained in a statement received by the Yemeni News Agency (Saba) that this occasion represented an opportunity to shed light on population issues and their impact on sustainable development, and to highlight the demographic challenges facing Yemen, which have intensified since 2015 as a result of the aggression and blockade on the country and its repercussions on various aspects of development.
The statement indicated that this annual occasion comes amidst the difficult economic and humanitarian conditions facing the country, where population challenges intersect with health and education crises, population displacement, and the spread of poverty. This calls for emphasizing the importance of implementing programs and activities that include the necessary interventions to improve population and demographic indicators as a gateway to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
It stated that the current situation in the country requires increased technical and material support to enable the implementation of the population action program and the achievement of the goals of the National Population Policy. He called for concerted national and international efforts and enhanced government commitment to address population challenges, as they are among the causes of the country's poor health, education, economic, and living standards.
According to population reports issued by the Council, the population is expected to reach more than 40.6 million by 2030, compared to the current estimated population of 34.5 million, with a population growth rate of 2.8 percent.
International estimates also indicate that approximately 80% of the population lives below the poverty line, and approximately 4.5 million women of childbearing age face challenges in accessing maternal and newborn health services due to the deterioration of the health system due to the ongoing aggression and blockade.
According to the Council, displacement issues are one of the most prominent population challenges. Reports indicate that there are more than six million internally displaced persons (IDPs) due to the aggression and blockade, according to estimates by 2024. This increases pressure on basic services in host communities and negatively impacts education, health, and employment.
The National Population Council called on relevant international organizations, most notably the United Nations Population Fund, to resume support for population and demographic activities and programs and strengthen partnerships with various stakeholders involved in population work, in an effort to achieve the objectives of the National Population Policy and the Sustainable Development Goals.
The statement addressed the extent of the suffering of the people of Gaza and the difficult humanitarian conditions they endure as a result of the killing, genocide, destruction, and blockade perpetrated by the Israeli killing and destruction machine, with clear American support. It called on world governments to exert maximum pressure to stop the bloodshed in Palestine, lift the blockade, and deliver humanitarian aid, including food, medicine, and other supplies, to the people of Gaza.