Danish Refugee Council has been elected as a member of the Humanitarian Country Team in Yemen.
This membership allows for more direct influence on strategic decision-making along with other NGOs - and at a time when more than half of the population in Yemen are in dire need of humanitarian assistance.
The humanitarian crisis in Yemen remains acute with an estimated 13 million people in need of assistance. This is more than half of the population who are believed to be food-insecure and suffering from consequences of conflict and displacement. Malnutrition and protection needs have become widespread and of increasing concern while at the same time insecurity leaves limited access to large parts of the country where people are in need of aid.
With the membership of the Humanitarian Country Team in Yemen, Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is in a strengthened position to contribute to and influence strategic decision-making related to future humanitarian action. The composition of the Humanitarian Country Team includes representatives from the UN, IOM, international and local NGOs, and the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
Danish Refuge Council has a strong commitment to bridging the gap between the international and national NGOs in Yemen, through capacity building interventions, networking and the development of mentoring partnerships. The Humanitarian Country Team is an important forum for bringing forward issues with regard to links to national NGOs in Yemen, and not least as a platform for operational coordination.
"Yemen is one of the world’s major humanitarian crisis, and there are alarming facts documenting the needs for emergency aid and assistance. The situation in Yemen requires interventions that are addressing emergencies as well as the more long term needs for recovery and resilience," says Peter Klansoe, Regional Director for the Danish Refugee Council Horn of Africa & Yemen.
"With the Danish Refugee Council being elected as a member of the Humanitarian Country Team in Yemen for the coming year, we are given a unique opportunity. This opportunity allows us to better contribute with our technical expertise and on-ground knowledge of protection concerns relating to conflict, and needs related to refugees and migrants, often in areas where the UN agencies have limited access," says Allen Jelich, Country Director for Danish Refugee Council in Yemen.
Thirteen million people do not have access to safe water and sanitation, 10.5 million are food-insecure, 431,000 are displaced, and 90,000 children lack access to education. Through the 2013 Response Plan put forward by the Humanitarian Country Team in Yemen, humanitarian partners aim to assist 7.7 million of the neediest Yemenis. A 22 per cent increase in funding requirements in 2013 compared to 2012 has pushed the amount needed to USD 716 million.
Danish Refugee Council has been operational in Yemen since 2008 and is committed to continue to provide lifesaving assistance and to support Yeminis in displacement as well as increasing the resilience of the local communities hosting them.
Currently, Danish Refugee Council’s activities in Yemen are funded by UNICEF UNHCR, OCHA, WFP, IOM, SDC, and EC.
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