Yemen Humanitarian Update Covering 10 - 16 April 2018 | Issue 11 [EN/AR]

KEY ISSUES:

• Continued fighting in Yemen’s western governorates of Al Hudaydah and Taizz has displaced more than 19,000 households.

• The losses caused by the fire in the WFP warehouse in Al Hudaydah on 31 March amount to USD 5 million. A fire reportedly broke out in a WFP mobile storage unit for non-food items in Al Hudaydah city on 16 April. Initial reports indicate that the fire has caused minimal damage.

• A WHO-chartered cargo plane delivered 19 tons of medical supplies to Sana’a Airport.

PROTRACTED VIOLENCE CONTINUES TO PUSH YEMENIS INTO DISPLACEMENT

The Shelter/NFI/CCCM cluster reports that as of 12 April protracted violence in the Al Hudaydah and Taizz governorates has displaced 19,145 households of whom 9,838 have been assisted. This new wave of displacement further adds up to the three million Yemenis who have already faced the shock of having to flee their homes, two million of whom remain displaced across the country. 89 percent of IDPs in Yemen have been displaced for more than one year.

According to the Protection Cluster, displaced people increasingly face protection risks, including those living in public buildings, collective centres or spontaneous settlements. Deteriorating shelter conditions, such as overcrowding and unsanitary IDP settlements, have led to increased spread and susceptibility to communicable diseases. Many IDPs are in need of shelter, food, water, sanitation and access to health services. They are vulnerable to exploitation, indebtedness, and negative coping mechanism, such as begging, child labour, recruitment by armed groups and early marriage.

As conditions deteriorate in Yemen, humanitarian partners have prioritised assistance for some of the most vulnerable communities, including IDPs, returnees and host communities. In 2018, a total of 266,000 IDP households are targeted to receive assistance as part of the Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan, including rental subsidies, core relief items, emergency shelter and legal aid. USD 198.7 million and unimpeded access are required.

Multi-cluster humanitarian response to new displacement driven by the conflict in Al Hudaydah and Taizz governorates is still ongoing. However, a lack of implementing partners on the ground and the authorities’ delay in releasing the necessary approvals have negatively affected the response.

In between January and March 2018, the Shelter/NFI/ CCCM cluster reached approx. 227,000 people as per the breakdown below.

UPDATES FROM THE HUMANITARIAN HUBS

Al Hudaydah: WFP reported that the estimated value of the assistance destroyed in the fire that occurred in its warehouse in Al Hudaydah city on 31 March amounts to US$5 million. The lost supplies were meant to contribute to the rations of at least 1.8 million beneficiaries for a month’s period. WFP is using reserves to partially cover the gap and prevent any disruption to the monthly distribution process. A new fire broke out on 16 April in a WFP mobile storage unit for non-food items in Al Hudaydah city, no significant damage was reported. At least two humanitarian organisations reached and responded in Al Khawkhah district during the reporting period. However, access to the eastern part of Hays district remains challenging due to continued shelling. In Al Hudaydah city, humanitarian partners have provided NFI, cash and hygiene assistance to some 1,500 families, including IDPs. In Hajjah governorate, 158 families among the most vulnerable in Abs district received cash assistance.

Aden: Queues have been witnessed at private fuel stations in the governorate, while government-run fuel stations are not functioning. Fuel is available in the unofficial market at a higher price. In nearby governorates, however, fuel is available with no change in price. Cut-off hours of electricity have increased during the reporting period to 6-8 hours a day, compared to two hours a day in the previous weeks. According to a displacement tracking exercise, 305 new IDP households were reported in Aden in the past week. Reportedly, 244 other new IDP families have been displaced in the districts of Khanfir, Lawdar and Zingibar in Abyan governorate and 61 in Tuban and Al Had districts in Lahj governorate. 299 suspected diphtheria cases were reported in the hub as of 8 April, including 141 cases in Al Dhale’e, 67 in Aden, 12 in Lahj, seven in Abyan and one case in Shabwah.

Sana’a: On 11 April, a WHO-chartered cargo plane delivered 19 tons of medical and therapeutic items to Sana’a International Airport. The items will be distributed across Yemen. The road from Sana’a to Sayun in Hadramaut governorate, mainly used by civilians planning to travel abroad through Sayun Airport, has been temporarily cut off due to ground clashes in Al Bayda governorate.

Humanitarian partners have also reported access constraints in Hamdan and Bani Matar districts (Sana’a governorate) and in Harib district (Marib governorate) by local authorities restricting their movement and ability to implement programmes.

Sa’ada: Airstrikes and ground fighting continued across the districts bordering the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and along frontlines in Al Jawf governorate, resulting in several civilian casualties, including children. ACTED and DRC reported that airstrikes on 9 April hit targets within a short distance from their premises in Sa’ada city while 56 staff were working. Both premises are deconflicted.

Four water projects were completed in the districts of Bart Al Anan and Rajuzahin Al Jawf governorate. The intervention, which involved rehabilitating and protecting water sources and installing solar systems for generating power will serve 10,000 beneficiaries. Three additional water projects in the districts of As Safra and Sahar will benefit some 17,000 beneficiaries.

Ibb: Clashes continued along the frontlines in Taizz governorate, including in Salah, Dimnat Khadir and Hayfan districts. On 10 April, at least 15 people, including children, were reportedly killed when an airstrike hit their house in Dimnat Khadir district. Around 50 families have been displaced from As Silw district in Taizz governorate to Dimnat Khadir district in the same governorate and Dhi As Sufal district in Ibb governorate.

Following the closure of the dialysis department of the AlThawrah Hospital in Taizz city, Al-Jamhoury hospital may also be forced to close its dialysis department due to lack of supplies.