Attachments
KEY MESSAGES
- While needs like Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), food, and shelter remain a priority for households in both Khanfar and Al Makha districts, other needs—such as mental health, protection, and accountability—have been found to influence the ability of vulnerable population to meet these priorities. Addressing these interconnected needs holistically can foster resilience and ensure more equitable access to essential services.
- Women in Khanfar and Al Makha reported higher prevalence of serious problems, particularly in healthcare and hygiene, with gendered disparities exacerbated by limited access to services and safety concerns.
- Perceived inequities in aid distribution and insufficient information-sharing have been identified as factors undermining trust between Internally Displaced People (IDPs) and host communities. Strengthening accountability mechanisms, promoting equitable aid delivery, and investing in community-driven protection systems and psychosocial support are foundational to restoring social cohesion and enabling long-term recovery.
CONTEXT & RATIONALE
The ongoing conflict in Yemen, now in its tenth year as of 2024, has significantly worsened vulnerabilities, particularly among marginalized groups, and deepened gaps in essential services. REACH has conducted Public Health Settlement-Based Assessments (SBAs) in Al Makha and Khanfar districts to uncover these gaps and offer localized insights. To help prioritize assistance based on the affected populations’ needs, REACH employed the Humanitarian Emergency Settings Perceived Needs Scale (HESPER), a scientific method of assessing the perceived needs of people affected by large-scale humanitarian emergencies, such as war, conflict or major natural disaster. The findings from these districts underscore critical gaps in understanding and addressing humanitarian needs, particularly regarding the well-being and protection of vulnerable groups.
This brief emphasizes the importance of inclusive, community-centered assessments, which integrate tools like the HESPER scale, to ensure that humanitarian responses are tailored to reflect both household-level and perceived needs, ultimately ensuring more effective and responsive aid. Given the financial strain on vulnerable population, it is crucial to prioritize sustainable solutions that address the root causes of vulnerabilities. By incorporating community-level insights, people-centred assessments expand the scope of what is typically considered within the humanitarian sectoral approach. They highlight potential challenges such as law and justice, gender-based violence, mental health, and care for vulnerable individuals, which might otherwise be overlooked. This broader perspective enables the design of programs that not only address immediate needs but also tackles underlying issues, fostering resilience and supporting sustainable, community-driven solutions.