Needs Assessment Report

Tamdeen Youth Foundation (TYF) & Relief and Development Peer Foundation (RDP)

February 6, 2017

List of Acronyms

IDPs Internal Displaced Persons HHs Households WASH Water and Sanitation Hygiene RDP Relief and Development Peer Foundation TYF Tamdeen Youth Foundation FGDs focus group discussions

Contents

Executive Summary ...... 4 Introduction ...... 7 CONFLICT ESCALATION ...... 10 Dhubab District ...... 10 Al Mukha District ...... 12 Mawza District ...... 14 METHODOLOGY ...... 15 RESULTS ...... 16 Recommendations ...... 22

Executive Summary

The current conflict in Yemen has dramatically affected all aspects of life and brought it to almost standstill in some areas. People are left with need to the most basic necessities of life. The violence gripped most of the districts in Taizz governorate and extensively damaged the infrastructure. Since January 7, 2017 intensive, violent airstrike by the Saudi led Collation as well as armed confrontation is running in Al Mukha coastal district leaving people in deadly life circumstances. Dhubab, the nearest district to Al Mukha, was previously targeted and dramatically affected by the conflict which led to the fled of people to safer areas. Then the neighboring district of Mawza become the host place for IDPs from Dhubab and Al Mukha districts.

Currently, the three districts are in the midst of an acute humanitarian crisis. Consequently, Relief and Development Peer Foundation (RDP) and Tamdeen Youth Foundation (TYF) have conducted needs assessment that aims at determining the current situation for IDPs and the affected host communities in Al Mukha, Dhubab and Mawza districts and identifying their needs. For accuracy and verification purposes various tools have been used to conduct this assessment such as questionnaires, interviews, FGDs and HHs survey.

The findings of the assessment provide the necessary information to decide the proper and needed intervention areas. Shelter, food, water and sanitation hygiene , health are of urgent needs. Below are the main findings of this assessment:

- Mawza’a hosted the largest percentage of IDPs coming from Al Mukha, while lower numbers of IDPs headed to Khawkha and Hays districts in Hodeidah.

- 70% of Dhubab population had fled due to the escalation since the beginning of January 2017. However, during the last two weeks 28% of which have returned home in Wahija, Al Jadeed and Al-Kadaha. - 21,500 of Al Mukha population had fled due to the escalation of the conflict since mid of January, 2017. - 41,000 are trapped in Al-Mashaleeha, Al-Zahari and Al Mukha areas as roads are closed, even if roads are opened the majority of people are suffering from poverty and lost their means of livelihoods and they don’t have the cost of transportation to move to other safer places. People are suffering from the lack of drinking water, shelter food, and medicines. - The highest rate of displacement was from Dhubab where 98% of the population fled to relatively neighboring other safer areas. - Nearly 2100 IDPs fled from Al Mukha to Mawza district since January, 2017. - Thousands of IDPs from Dhubab had been forced to leave their homes and live out in open spaces as they cannot afford the transportation and other displacement needs costs.

Based on these critical findings, it is recommended to: 1. A ceasefire by the conflict parties to protect the lives of civilians trapped in the conflict areas in Al Mukha and the deliver the humanitarian needs to affected population either IDPs or host communities. 2. Provision of emergency WASH, Food and health assistances to people in Al Mukha. 3. Provision of food items for the returnee HHs in Wahija, Aljadeed and Al-Kadaha in Dhubab district as well as for the IDPs and host communities in Al Mandab and Mawza

4. Coordination of integrated interventions for IDPs and affected host communities in Al Mukha, Mawza and Dhubab especially for IDPs living in the open spaces (provision of Shelter kit, food items, safe water and medical assistances). 5. Provision of fuel to the local water corporation in Al Mukha district to operate the water project as well as the fuel necessary for water pumps in Al Mandab and Mawza. 6. Support health centers for provision health and nutrition services. 7. Coordination with conflict parties to for medical evacuation for wounded, injured and the critical cases among civilians. 8. Launch an appeal for provision of humanitarian aid to the coastal areas in Taiz governorate.

Introduction

The 2014 Human Development Index shows that Yemen ranks 160 out of 187 countries with a score of 0.4981. Yemen has been exposed to a number of internal and external conflicts. The latest conflict was escalated since two years resulting in a catastrophic humanitarian situation where millions of Yemenis are in acute need of humanitarian aid.

Displacement is estimated to be 2,007,2162 IDPs. Taizz was among the most affected governorates in Yemen with a very high density of IDPs.

The Governorate is divided into 23 districts. This needs assessment will focus on 3 of them which are Al Mukha, Dhubab and Mozaa. Al Mukha has a distance of 1568.5 km2 with a population of approximately 91000 inhabitants, the district is divided into 4 sub- districts, Al Mukha, Aljumea, Almushalaha and Alizhari. Dhubab has a distance of 1556.6 Km2 with a population of approximately 23,152 inhabitants. Bani Alhakm and Miyun Island are Dhubab’s two sub-district. Mozaa has a distance of 684.2 Km2 with a population of approximately 39000 inhabitants and Mawza, Alahmwl, Aleawashiqa and Al'atima are the four sub districts of Mawza. The sources of income of people living in these districts are fishing, business related activities to Mukha port, agriculture, livestock, and handicrafts.

1 latest UNDP Human Development Index 2014 2 Task Force on Population Movement 12th Report

Taizz Governorate Map

Shara’b As Salam Shara’b Ar Rawnah

At Ta’iziyah

Maqbanah Al Qahirah Al MudhaffarSalh Mawiyah Sabir Al Mawadim Sabir Al Mawadim Mashra’a Wa HadnanAl Misrakh Al Mukha Mawza Jabal Habashy Al Misrakh Dimnat Khadir

Sama Al Ma’afer As Silw Al Mawasit Hayfan

Ash Shamayatayn Al Wazi’iyah

Dhubab

The escalation of the conflict has increased rapidly in the southern areas of Dhubab district in Taiz since more than a year. Then it has been expanded to the coastal areas of Al Mukha and Mozaa districts that are near the red sea.

The majority of people have been affected by the current conflict, People fled from their homes to the interior areas to find a safer place. The majority of Al Mukha and Dhubab population are suffering from poverty and difficult economic situation as a result of high displacement movement.

The expansion of battle roadmap in new areas in Al Mukha and Dhubab districts led to humanitarian crisis and destruction of the infrastructure, thousands of civilians almost were trapped due to the clashes along these coastal areas.

CONFLICT ESCALATION

Dhubab District

The first displacement movement from the district was on March 31, 2015 when Miyun Island has been targeted by the coalition airstrikes. In October 2015, the coalition controlled Bab Al- Mandab area from Aden governorate side and moved forward to Dhubab district. As a result of the escalation, the district and its neighboring areas turned into military areas and depopulated.

On January 7, 2017, the coalition forces launched a large-scale military operation to control Dhubab district. The conflict expanded along the north coastline towards Al- sameen, Aljadeed, Alkadahah and wahajah areas which forced the residents of these areas to leave their homes and fled to relatives and friends’ houses while others were forced to stay in open spaces and Farms in Mandab and Mawza and other areas.

The following table shows the IDPs movement in and out of Dhubab district: Number Displace Total of IDPs d out of Destination of Returnee Area population in the the displacement s district district

Al-Mandab, Mawza’a, Aden, Dhubab 7,800 - 7,800 Hodeidah, Taiz - Mawza’a, Hodeidah, Wahijah 2,792 - 2,792 Al-Khaboot 2,000

Mawza’a , Hodeidah, Al-Kadaha 3,860 - 3,860 Al-khaboot, Al-Jaheli 3,000

Mawza’a , Taiz, Al- Al-Jadeed 2,100 - 2,100 khaboot, Al-Jaheli 1,500

Al-Doosh 2,100 - 1,800 Mawza’a - Al-khaboor, Al- Al-Hareekiah 1,700 - 1,700 Manda -

Al-mandab 2,800 5200 - -

Total 23,152 5,200 20,052 6,500

Al Mukha District

On March 29, 2015, air defense camp had been targeted in the eastern areas of Al Mukha for the first time, no losses among the civilians and no displacement had been reported. On July 29, 2016, 68 civilian had been killed and tens of people were wounded near Al Mukha steam station.

The activities of Al Mukha port has dramatically declined since the beginning of the war in 2015 and it has been suspended completely on January 7th, 2017 after coalition launched Golden Spear Operation, and on 21 January 2017, the fishing activity has been stopped completely along the coastal areas and Al-Zahari sub-district.

The escalation in Al Mukha has started after Dhubab coastal areas have been controlled by the coalition on January 23, 2017 and the military operation has been expanded to Jabal Al-Nar the eastern entrance to Al Mukha. On January 28, 2017 the coalition forces announced that the coastal areas between Hodeidah and Al Mukha are considered as military zones.

The following table shows the IDPs movement in and out of Al Mukha district:

Number of Destination of displacement Total Displaced out Area IDPs Governora population of the district District Area Returnees in the district te Al-Jumaah 26,000 9,100 - - Al-Mashaleeha 20,000 - 2,000 Taiz AlMukha Al-Mashaleeha - Al- - Maqbanah Thubani - Al-gharafi Mawza’a Hajda-Albarah Mawza’a Al-Zahari 24,000 3,850 5,500 Taiz Al Zahari Alkadiha -Alramm - Maqbanah Hajda - Albarah Alhodiedah Mawza’a Mawza’a Aljirahi & Hays

Al Mukha 21,000 - 14,000 Taiz Al Mukha Al-Jumaah - Alnnajiba - Maqbanah Hajda-Albarah Mawza’a Mawza’a Al Al Hudaydah& Al Garrahi & Hudaydah Al Khawkhah Total 91,000 12,950 21,500 -

Mawza District

Mawza district is the main destination for IDPs who fled from Wazeia and Dhubab districts since the beginning of the war, and the displacement has been increased rapidly as a result of the conflict escalation in Dhubab and Al Mukha since January 7th, 2017.

The following table shows the IDPs movement in and out of Mawza district:

Number of IDPs Displaced out of Destination of Area Total population in the district the district displacement Mawza 15,000 4,200 - - Alahmwl 17,000 350 - - Aleawashiqa 3,000 224 - - Al'atima 4,000 200 - - Total 39,000 4,974 -

METHODOLOGY

The continues escalations in the areas covered by the assessment, which resulted in large numbers of IDPs, have required conducting a needs assessment in order to determine the proper humanitarian intervention for IDPs and affected host communities. The assessment has taken place during the period January 25 to February 5, 2017.

For the purpose of this assessment, the team depended on both quantitative and qualitative methods to collect preliminary data. The used assessment tools were key informant interviews, FGDs and households’ surveys that have been conducted by a trained field team using Initial Assessment Tool from the three districts (Al Mukha, Dhubab and Mawza). Several secondary sources in the form of statistics have been used as well.

As the conflict was highly escalated in January, 2017, the costal districts of Al Mukha and Dhubab were depopulated and declared as military zones. The district of Mawza is the nearest to area to Al Mukha and Dhubab has hosted the largest number of IDPs. Now affected host community and IDPs are living in miserable humanitarian situation and are even threatened with dying unless humanitarian actors play an active role to mitigate the suffering of people.

For ensuring good results of the needs assessment, training has been conducted for the assessment team explaining the purpose of the needs assessment; how to use the assessment tool to collect the data. During the assessment process, the team has taken the following points into consideration:

- Conduct the needs assessment in many different locations within each targeted district. - Ensure the participation of the host communities in the needs assessment - 42% of the total sampling representing women to address the different needs of females. - Meeting and communicating with the representatives of local authorities and other related stakeholders in the targeted districts. - High participation of IDPs in the assessment (community team leaders, health workers, IDP or Returnee and affected host communities).

RESULTS

- Mawza hosted the largest percentage of IDPs coming from Al Mukha, while lower numbers of IDPs headed to Khawkha and Hays districts in Hodeidah. - 70% of Dhubab population had fled due to the escalation since the beginning of January 2017. However, during the last two weeks 28% of which have returned home in Wahija, Al Jadeed and Al-Kadaha. - 21,500 of Al Mukha population had fled due to the escalation of the conflict since mid of January, 2017. - 41,000 are trapped in Al-Mashaleeha, Al-Zahari and Al Mukha areas as roads are closed, even if roads are opened the majority of people are suffering from poverty and lost their means of livelihoods and they don’t have the cost of transportation to move to other safer places. People are suffering from the lack of drinking water, shelter food, and medicines. - The highest rate of displacement was from Dhubab where 98% of the population fled to relatively neighboring other safer areas. - Nearly 2100 IDPs fled from Al Mukha to Mawza district since January, 2017.

- Thousands of IDPs from Dhubab had been forced to leave their homes and live out in open spaces as they cannot afford the transportation and other displacement needs costs.

The assessment showed that there is a difference percentages among the three districts in terms of lack of services availability within the community according the level of escalation in each district.

The following table shows the results of lack of services availability. Service Dhubab Al Mukha Mawza’a Electricity 100% 100% 100% Petroleum 60% 57% 27% Non-food market 34% 43% 18% Health Services 33% 86% 64% GBV Services 0% 100% 100% Maternal/Child Services 0% 100% 91% Nutrition services 0% 100% 82% Financial Services/ATM 60% 29% 36% Post Office 58% 57% 55% Mobile network 100% 14% 9% Radio network 100% 14% 0% Food Market 60% 31% 18% Child friendly spaces 0% 100% 100% Civic documentation 0% 86% 36% Education 48% 29% 18% Sewage services 26% 89% 81% Solid waste collection and disposal 22% 75% 83% Drinking water source 36% 64% 23%

Lack of services availability within the community/ settlement 120%

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

Dhubab Al Mukha Mawza’a

75% of the IDPs from Al Mukha & Dhubab are residing with their relatives or friends, 21% living in a rented houses, while 4% live in open areas as they don’t have money or any means of livelihoods.

IDPS' SHELTER TYPE Open areas 21%

Rented property Friend's & 4% Relative’s house 75%

IDPs and affected host communities have identified WASH and shelter as high priority that require an urgent intervention to safe life and to protect the human dignity. The following table shows more details.

# Items Dhubab Al Mukha Mawza’a 1 Clothes 33% 34% 40% 2 Cooking fuel 62% 57% 39% 3 Water container 70% 71% 40% 4 Plastic sheeting 87% 86% 64%

# Items Dhubab Al Mukha Mawza’a 5 Mattress & Blanket 80% 57% 65% 6 Female hygiene items 84% 86% 82% 7 Water filter or water treatment tablets/ materials 85% 84% 58% 8 Soap 78% 83% 55%

NEEDS OF AFFECTED POPULATION IN THE COMMUNITY 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Clothes Cooking fuel Water Plastic Mattress & Female Water filter Soap container sheeting Blanket hygiene or water items treatment tablets/ materials

Dhubab Al Mukha Mawza’a

In Al Mukha and Dhubab districts the primary drinking source for drinking water is the public wells and there is a lack of fuel to operate the water projects, while in Mawza, affected community and IDPs are depend on borehole/well to have an access to drinking water, which require a piping system to be installed to the nearest place of IDPs. The following table shows the results.

Water source Dhubab Al Mukha Mawza’a Public Well 40% 38% 27% Private Well 20% 13% 9% Connection to public water network 20% 38% 18% Pipes connected to borehole/well 20% 13% 45%

The primary drinking water source 50% 45% 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% Public Well Private Well Connection to public water Pipes connected to network borehole/well

Dhubab Al Mukha Mawza’a

Recommendations

1. A ceasefire by the conflict parties to protect the lives of civilians trapped in the conflict areas in Al Mukha and the deliver the humanitarian needs to affected population either IDPs or host communities. 2. Provision of emergency WASH, Food and health assistances to people in Al Mukha. 3. Provision of food items for the returnee HHs in Wahija, Aljadeed and Al-Kadaha in Dhubab district as well as for the IDPs and host communities in Al Mandab and Mawza 4. Coordination of integrated interventions for IDPs and affected host communities in Al Mukha, Mawza and Dhubab especially for IDPs living in the open spaces (provision of Shelter kit, food items, safe water and medical assistances). 5. Provision of fuel to the local water corporation in Al Mukha district to operate the water project as well as the fuel necessary for water pumps in Al Mandab and Mawza. 6. Support health centers for provision health and nutrition services. 7. Coordination with conflict parties to for medical evacuation for wounded, injured and the critical cases among civilians. 8. Launch an appeal for provision of humanitarian aid to the coastal areas in Taiz governorate.