YEMEN – Conflict ETC Situation Report #13 Reporting period 19/08/16 to 29/09/16

These Situation Reports are distributed every six weeks. The next report will be issued on or around 10/11/16.

Highlights

• The Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC) received in a shipment containing Information Technology (IT) and telecommunications equipment.

• A revision of the budget for ETC activities until the end of 2017 was finalised.

• The ETC deployed connectivity equipment to provide back-up connectivity services in Ibb in mid-September.

• Internet connectivity services provided by the

ETC at the Diplomatic Transit Facility (DTF) in An ETC data specialist deploying a satellite kit in Sana’a have been expanded on the 8th floor. Ibb to provide back-up Internet services to UN agencies.

Photo credits: WFP

Situation Overview

The month of August was marked by a breakdown of the Cessation of Hostilities and the escalation of military activities. Fighting intensified in the areas of Al Jawf, Sana’a, Shabwah, Taizz and governorates and along the border between Yemen and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia resulting in increased numbers of civilian casualties and significant damage to civilian infrastructure, including power plants on both sides of the border.

According to WHO, over 40,000 casualties (killed and injured) have been reported in Yemen since March 2015, however, these figures are reported from functioning health facilities and actual numbers are likely to be significantly higher.

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The ETC is a global network of organizations that work together to provide shared communications services in humanitarian emergencies.

Response

• The shipment containing IT and Telecommunications equipment arrived to Aden from Dubai and is awaiting customs clearance. UNDSS and the ETC are planning a mission to Aden to check the received telecommunications items.

• The ETC has deployed 2x satellite kits in Ibb. One of them has been deployed at UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) premises to establish the inter-agency back-up connectivity hub. The second one has been installed at the ETC Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) back-up hub in the Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED) offices. While the satellite kit at UNICEF is fully operational, the one in ACTED needs final configuration.

• The ETC has finalised the second budget revision which covers its activities until December 2017. The ETC requires US$3.2 million to continue providing live-saving connectivity services to humanitarians in 6x locations across Yemen until the end of next year.

o This budget also includes inter-agency activities such as the establishment of a beneficiary- feedback mechanism. The ETC is planning to set up a call centre to manage inbound and outbound calls.

• The ETC team carried out technical evaluation for the deployment of back-up connectivity services at the common UN hub in UNICEF premises in Sa’ada.

• The ETC supported an UNDSS mission to Sa’ada to expand the Very High Frequency (VHF) coverage from the Communications Centre (COMCEN). The ETC provided a repeater kit, an antenna and telecommunications consumables to UNDSS. UNDSS is currently working on recruitment of 5x radio operators to make the COMCEN in Sa’ada operational 24/7.

• The ETC carried out a joint initial assessment with the vendor in charge of building the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) infrastructure for the new UN residential compound in Sana’a. In addition, the ETC is liaising with the ICT focal points from other agencies to define the connectivity needs. The ETC will supervise the deployment of infrastructure make sure ICT services are up to UN standards.

Planned Response

• The ETC is preparing an expansion of the Internet services at the DTF in Sana’a to cover additional floors. ETC services will be integrated with the DTF existing network, to increase the quality of connectivity.

• The ETC has been designated to build the ICT infrastructure of the two new UN compounds that are being currently built in .

• UNDSS and the ETC are planning a joint mission to Aden to scale up resources in the UNDSS common radio room based in UNHCR premises.

Page 2 of 6 Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC) www.ETCluster.org

Challenges

• Lengthy customs clearance processes in Djibouti and Yemen are affecting the deployment of ICT equipment across the country. The ETC is mitigating this by obtaining pre-clearance approvals from local authorities before shipping any equipment into Yemen.

• Given the security situation in Al and Ta’izz, these locations remain inaccessible. The ETC will deploy communications services in these operational areas when the situation allows. The ETC is providing shared connectivity services in alternative locations e.g. Ibb.

Meetings

Local ETC meeting:

The ETC is holding fortnightly local meetings in Sana’a. The next meeting is planned for 19 October at 9:00 UTC.

Global ETC teleconference:

The ETC is holding monthly Global ETC Joint teleconferences. The next meeting is planned for November, date to be confirmed.

All information related to ETC operations can be found on the ETC website: www.ETCluster.org. For security reasons, most information is kept private, and logging in is required to access them.

For more information, or to be added or deleted from the mailing list, please contact: [email protected]

Acronyms

ACTED Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development COMCEN Communications Centre DTF Diplomatic Transit Facility ETC Emergency Telecommunications Cluster ICT Information and Communications Technology NGO Non-Government Organisation UN United Nations UNDSS UN Department of Safety and Security UNICEF UN Children’s Fund VHF Very High Frequency WFP World Food Programme WHO World Health Organization

Page 3 of 6 Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC) www.ETCluster.org

Background on the emergency:

The ETC has been continuously present in Yemen since April 2015, supporting the humanitarian community with basic IT and telecommunications services. Operations are progressing amidst challenges of lack of equipment, lack of access to critical operational areas and restrictions of movement for staff. Internet hubs and security telecommunications are available in four locations, and plans are in place to deploy more services when conditions allow it.

The escalation of conflict in March 2015 is currently affecting all 22 governorates in Yemen. Restrictions on commercial imports are crippling the country. Civilians are bearing the brunt of the violence and humanitarian organizations estimate that 21.2 million people, 80% of the population, currently require some form of humanitarian assistance. Of these, 2.4 million are estimated to be displaced.

The World Food Programme (WFP) is leading ETC activities, which include:

1. Establish, upgrade and maintain security telecommunications services

2. Provide shared internet connectivity services and solar charging stations

3. Coordination and information-sharing.

Sources: Al Jazeera, OCHA

Page 4 of 6 Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC) www.ETCluster.org

Shared ICT Services

CITY LEAD AGENCY ETC SERVICES  Coordination hub  Customer support  Radio user training  Radio programming Sana’a WFP/UNDSS  VHF radio coverage  HF radio coverage  24/7 COMCEN  Internet Hotspot in DTF  Internet Hotspot in INGO  VHF Radio Coverage Al Hudaydah WFP/UNDSS  Radio user training  24/7 COMCEN  Internet Hotspot at the common UN building (WHO premises) Aden WFP/UNDSS/UNHCR  24/7 COMCEN  COMCEN operating during office hours Ibb WFP/UNICEF  Satellite base station  Internet Hotspot in UN hub (UNICEF premises)  Internet Hotspot in INGO (ACTED premises)  VHF base radio Sa’ada UNICEF/UNDSS  VHF radio coverage  Satellite phone

Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC) www.ETCluster.org

ETC Yemen Focal Points

TITLE AGENCY NAME EMAIL MOBILE PHONE ETC Coordinator WFP Khawar Ilyas [email protected] +967 737789103 Information Management Officer (Remote, from United Arab WFP Erika Iglesias [email protected] +971 529272014 Emirates)

Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC) www.ETCluster.org