Support for internally displaced persons in The project provides access to improved basic services

Three and a half million people have fled from their Yemen communities to other parts of the country. Governance structures have partially collapsed and are dysfunc- tional. Much of the infrastructure has been destroyed. Nearly half of all health centres are working at limited al-Hudaida Ibb capacity or have been forced to close, so that an esti- mated 20 million people have little or no access to health care. Nearly 18 million have no clean water or sanitation Improving access to basic social services for facilities. Social systems that should provide a safety net Project name internally displaced persons and the local for disadvantaged households and population groups no population in central host regions in Yemen longer exist. German Federal Ministry for Economic Commissioned by ­Cooperation and Development (BMZ) Improving quality of life Implementing Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale ­organisation Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Project region Governorate Ibb, Taiz, al-Hudaida, Hajjah Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Deutsche Gesell­ Duration September 2016 to August 2022 schaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is Volume 8 million euros working to improve the provision of basic services for internally displaced persons and their host communities in Ibb, Taiz, al-Hudaida und Hajjah. These governorates A state of emergency are hosting a third of the country’s displaced persons.

The Republic of Yemen was once known for its ancient GIZ is drawing on decades of experience in Yemen in cultural heritage, dating back thousands of years, and its supporting the country at this challenging time. It is stunning natural landscapes. However, this small country assisting local authorities and civil society organisations on the Arabian Peninsula has been ravaged time and time in improving living conditions. These structures will again by armed conflict and humanitarian crises. In Sep- be particularly beneficial for the reconstruction of the tember 2014, fighters from the Houthi movement seized country. control of Yemen’s capital Sana’a and its government insti- tutions. Since March 2015 a brutal armed conflict for con- trol, also involving the regional powers, has been raging, with devastating consequences for the civilian population. Death, hunger and disease are bleeding Yemen dry. An end to the fighting is not yet in sight, and peace talks have failed to produce tangible improvements for the people.

Of Yemen’s 30 million inhabitants, 24 million require some form of humanitarian or protection assistance. More than half of the population is suffering from hunger. Support for internally displaced persons in Yemen 2

More than 25,000 particularly vulnerable groups, such as people with disabilities, women, girls and the elderly, were supported by specific activities. 34 school psycholo- gists were trained in dealing with trauma, and 11 child- friendly areas were equipped with games, for example in refugee camps and schools. In addition, the project supported an epilepsy center, a center for physiotherapy and one for children with disabilities by procuring neces- sary equipment and training staff members.

Improving mental health through sport GIZ and its local partners are supporting internally dis- placed people through various activities, for example by When Wagdy Amin Almusenni lost his younger brother improving access to sanitation and hygiene campaigns, to a mortar bomb in Taiz, the 17-year-old was overcome upgrading the drinking water supply and repairing by severe depression. wells. People in need now also have better access to med- “I didn’t go out of the house. I didn’t want ical care: run-down health centres are being refurbished to see my friends any more – I lost all interest and supplied with equipment, and training is provided in life and all motivation. Then the coach of for volunteer health workers and medical staff. Pro- a football team came along and persuaded grammes for families, children and teenagers enable me to play.“ them to deal with their war-related trauma and gain positive experiences of ‘normal’ life. The discipline of attending daily training and belonging to a group were good for Our results Wagdy. His mental health gradually improved – topped off by success on the pitch. Wagdy’s team won one of After three years, the project is producing tangible the 80 GIZ-sponsored football tournaments, and he was results: More than half a million people have access to chosen as man of the match and team captain. In 2018, drinking water, sanitary and health facilities and other he represented his country as a member of the national services. The project has supported 22 health centers youth team. that were previously unable to provide adequate medical help, through necessary renovation work and the pro- Wagdy Amin Almusenni, internally displaced person in curement of medical equipment. This benefits over Taiz, Yemen 314,000 local and internally displaced people. 70 medical professionals learned more about obstetrics, vaccina- The project is part of the BMZ Special Initiative entitled ‘Tackling tions and the treatment of chronically malnourished the root causes of displacement, stabilising host regions, sup- patients. To improve drinking water and sanitation for porting refugees’. The measures supported by the project benefit around 280,000 people, the project supported the reha- IDPs and host communities alike. With its sustained approach, the initiative seeks to eliminate long-term structural causes of bilitation of seven wells and the construction of 150 displacement, such as social inequality and lack of prospects. latrines. Members of various communities received This particular project gives Yemeni people better access to water, training in the maintenance and upkeep of the sanitation and health services. infrastructure.

Published by German Federal Ministry for Economic Edited by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Cooperation and Development (BMZ) Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH Division 221 Registered offices As at January 2020 Bonn and Eschborn, Germany (16.4056.4) Dag-Hammarskjöld-Weg 1-5 Contact [email protected] 65760 Eschborn, Germany www.bmz.de T +49 61 96 79-0 F +49 61 96 79-11 15 Postal address of BMZ Berlin www.giz.de BMZ offices Stresemannstraße 94 10963 Berlin, Germany Division Middle East T +49 (0)30 18 535-0 BMZ Bonn Contact person Sophia Körner Dahlmannstraße 4 [email protected] 53113 Bonn, Germany Author Steffi Nölting T +49 (0)228 99 535-0 Design creative republic, Frankfurt

Photos © GIZ