Humanitarian Update
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HUMANITARIAN UPDATE Issue 07 / July 2020 Distribution of commodity vouchers in Ammar bin Yaser School in Amant Al Asimah, Sana’a, April 2020. ©WFP/Mohammed Awadh New food security analysis HIGHLIGHTS forecasts an alarming increase in Funding shortage closes the number of people facing high life-saving programmes as humanitarian needs rise levels of acute food insecurity by P 02 end of 2020 COVID-19 strategy refreshed A new Integrated Phase Classification Grande, Humanitarian Coordinator as COVID-19 continues to (IPC) analysis released by the World for Yemen. “Eighteen months ago, spread across Yemen Food Program (WFP), the UN when we faced a similar situation, P 04 Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the we were generously funded. We Food and Agriculture Organization used the resources we were entrusted Fuel crisis is another shock (FAO) on 22 July, warns that with wisely and massively scaled- to the humanitarian situation economic shocks, conflict, floods, up assistance in the districts where in northern governorates locusts and COVID-19 could reverse people were the hungriest and most P 05 food security gains in Yemen. The at risk. The result was tremendous. report, which analyzes the situation We prevented famine. Unless we Hopes of a UN assessment of 7.9 million people in 133 districts receive the funding we need now, mission to avert a in southern governorates, forecasts we won’t be able to do the same this catastrophic oil spill from an alarming increase in the number time.” the Safer tanker falter of people facing high levels of acute Food insecurity is high in areas food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 and IPC P 07 characterized by fighting, which Phase 4), from 2 million (25 per cent leads to access restrictions for of the population) to 3.2 million (40 Air strikes causing civilian humanitarian food assistance and per cent of the population) in the next casualties double in the to markets, and causes constant six months, even if existing levels of second quarter of 2020 population displacements. In terms food assistance are maintained. This P 08 of severity, the 16 worst affected would reverse improvements made districts, in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency), since the 2018/2019 IPC analysis, are located in 8 governorates: Al when more than half a million Dhale’e (3), Marib (3), Al Bayda (2), people moved below IPC Phase 3, Shabwah (2), Abyan (2), Taizz (2), primarily because of a huge scale-up Al Jawf (1) and Hadramaut (1). In of humanitarian food assistance. terms of magnitude, the governorates “The IPC is telling us that Yemen with the highest numbers of people is again on the brink of a major in crisis or worse (IPC Phase 3+) food security crisis,” said Ms. Lise are Taizz (590,000), Lahj (487,500) 2 and Hadramaut (465,500). The increase in unhindered food assistance; protecting the people in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) and above is livelihoods of populations most at risk; concentrated in the six governorates: Abyan, supporting the rehabilitation of water Aden, Al Dhale’e, Hadramaut, Lahj and Taizz, infrastructures damaged by floods; promoting where 83 per cent of the increase is forecast. good nutritional practices; and strengthening early warning and general food security The analysis proposes recommendations monitoring. for urgent action, including continued and IPC classification in southern governorates Feb-Apr 2020 IPC Acute Food Insecurity Phase 1 Minimal 2 Stress 3 Crisis 4 Emergency Jul-Dec 2020 5 Famine Area not analysed (inaccessible) Source: IPC Acute Food Insecurity Analysis July – December 2020 Funding shortage closes life-saving programmes as humanitarian needs rise In his opening remarks to the UN Security Council brink of collapse. on 28 July, the Emergency Relief Coordinator COVID-19, continuing conflict and the (ERC), Mr. Mark Lowcock, warned members, deteriorating economy are driving more people “The humanitarian crisis in Yemen has never been into poverty and acute need. But, instead of worse”, highlighting increasing needs – including ramping up assistance, aid organizations are hunger and COVID-19 – escalating conflict, and a having to close or substantially downsize life- collapsing economy. Another major contributory saving assistance programmes due to a lack of factor to the current dire humanitarian situation funding, with grave ramifications for millions of is the huge funding shortage for the aid operation, Yemenis who rely on humanitarian assistance for “Humanitarian agencies are again nearly broke”, survival. the ERC said. More than US$3.2 billion is required for the humanitarian response in In April, food assistance was reduced in northern Yemen in 2020. At a High-Level Pledging Event governorates from full rations every month to in Riyadh held on 2 June, donors pledged only full rations every other month, cutting assistance $1.35 billion of the $2.41 billion needed to cover to 9 million people by half. Further reductions essential humanitarian activities between June are expected in both northern and southern and December of 2020, leaving a gap of more than governorates by November, affecting another 5 $1 billion. With only around $650 million of the million people and further eroding food security. $1.35 billion pledged received by the end of July, Families in IPC 4 who are a step away from famine the aid operation in Yemen is teetering on the – those who are in emergency conditions and 3 People reached by cluster in first half of 2020 FSAC Health Nutrition 15 In millions 1.0 In millions 0.6 In millions 0.8 0.5 12 0.6 0.4 9 0.4 0.3 6 0.2 0.2 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Shelter Education WASH 0.3 In millions 1.5 In millions 6.0 In millions 0.2 1.1 4.5 0.1 0.7 3.0 0.07 0.4 1.5 0 0 0.0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Protection RMMS RRM 0.35 In millions 35 In thousands 80 In thousands 0.27 27 65 0.20 20 50 0.12 12 35 0.05 5 20 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun CCCM Inter Sector Reach 0.3 In millions 15 In millions 0.2 12 0.17 9 0.1 0 6 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Source: Clusters experiencing large food consumption gaps – will be services in another 10 health facilities in the south in danger of sliding into IPC 5 – catastrophic/famine stopped in July, depriving 1.8 million people of conditions – and facing an extreme lack of food and regular access to health care services. Reproductive possibly starvation. health services and allowances for health workers in 140 health facilities were stopped in May, depriving In April, provision of the Minimum Service Package another 1.5 million women and girls of reproductive (MSP) – a health delivery mechanism that strengthens health services, including 36,000 at risk of facing access to health care services, including preventative complications during pregnancy and delivery. services that reduce the risk of the transmission of deadly diseases including cholera – was stopped in In June, the distribution of fishing kits and seven governorates, depriving 1.3 million people rehabilitation of fishing landing sites for 172,000 of access to life-saving care. In addition, payment fisher folk in IPC 3 and IPC 4 districts were stopped. of incentives to more than 1,800 medical and Support to farmers through livestock vaccination paramedical staff delivering the Minimum Initial programmes is expected to end in August. Service Package for reproductive health, was stopped In addition, 4.7 million people, including 2.5 million in 130 health facilities, affecting at least 2 million people living in cholera hotspots, stand to lose regular people, including 265,000 women and girls in need access to safe drinking water if no additional funding of reproductive health services. Moreover, incentive is received by the end of July, putting people in 15 payments to 110 emergency medical teams that major cities at heightened risk of dying of cholera and distribute essential supplies, including trauma kits, other waterborne diseases. to 110 health facilities were halted in April and May, putting 1.6 million people at a higher risk of dying If no funding is received in August, the Rapid due to a lack of surgical services. Incentive payments Response Mechanism (RRM) – an immediate relief for 4,000 health workers supporting preparedness package given to newly displaced people within 72 and response were also stopped in April, affecting 18 hours of displacement – will be halted, leaving 840,000 million people. newly displaced persons without life-saving supplies. Similarly, the distribution of hygiene kits to newly Further, IOM-supported health services in 51 displaced persons within 72 hours of displacement facilities in the north were halted in April, with 4 will stop, putting 300,000 people at a heightened stop in August, depriving 350,000 people of these risk of contracting deadly waterborne diseases. services and, 40,000 highly vulnerable people will Furthermore, 70 per cent of migrant assistance lose access to psychological services. services including specialized protection services, Finally, without urgent funding, allocations from migrant service centres and return programmes will the Yemen Humanitarian Fund, will be drastically be drastically reduced, affecting 100,000 destitute and reduced, significantly weakening the capacity of highly vulnerable migrants. Specialized services for partners to respond to emerging life-saving priorities gender-based violence (GBV) survivors in 29 safe and gaps. spaces and 4 specialized psychological centres will COVID-19 strategy refreshed as COVID-19 continues to spread across Yemen By 31 July 2020, 1,732 confirmed cases of COVID-19 hand hygiene, avoiding crowds, and staying home if had been reported with 494 deaths and 864 recoveries, people are sick.