The activities proposed hereafter are still subject to the adoption of the financing decision ECHO/WWD/BUD/2012/01000
1 . CONTEXT
Yemen ranks 133th out of 169 countries on the Human Development Index1 and over 45% of the population2 lives on less than USD 2 a day. It has the world's third highest rate of malnutrition, worse than anywhere in sub-Saharan Africa, with 7.36 million people undernourished3 and a level of global acute malnutrition for under-five children more than 12%.
In the long term Yemen faces a serious exacerbation of its problems due to a very high population growth, averaging around 2.9% per annum and depletion of natural resources, in particular oil and fresh water. With renewable water resources of only 125 cubic meters per capita/year, Yemen is one of the most water-scarce countries in the world. The total water demand per year exceeds the renewable resources, thus leading to a steady decline in groundwater levels.
This already very difficult situation is exacerbated by an escalating crisis. Since the beginning of February 2011, Yemen has been gripped by daily protests demanding the president’s ouster. The deadlocked political situation leads to more instability and a power vacuum.
The country’s fragmentation is deepening: Al Houthis control the Sa’ada governorate and have a strong presence in Al Jawf governorate while some areas of main towns like Sana’a or Taiz are under anti-governmental control. Additionally, Yemen now faces various conflicts with military forces on both sides especially in the south of Abyan governorate, with the Islamic militants and Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and in a less extend in Al Jawf governorate and Arahab district in Sana'a governorate. Moreover, the political instability and the famine in the Horn of Africa, particularly in Somalia, feeds an increasing flow of persons landing on Yemen's shores and a growing number of refugees and asylum seekers.
Energy shortages continue to adversely impact day to day functioning of businesses, health facilities and humanitarian operations.
Yemen is also prone to natural disasters with droughts, irregular rainfalls and epidemics, and flooding. The effects of climate change are increasingly felt in the region.
Yemen scores 3/3, the most severe level, in the Vulnerability and Crisis Index of Directorate General for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (DG ECHO) and has been declared a forgotten crisis for 2012.