HUMANITARIAN UPDATE

Issue 10 / 12 June -25 July 2019

Security Council briefed on HIGHLIGHTS threats to the humanitarian response Lack of funding threatens the Yemen humanitarian In a briefing to the Security pledged US$2.6 billion. Twenty- response Council on 18 June, the seven of the 40 donors who P 01 Emergency Relief Coordinator pledged have paid more than 75 (ERC), Mark Lowcock reported per cent of their pledges, and 20 Conflict in Al Dhale’e that the humanitarian situation of the donors have paid 100 per increases civilian casualities is worsening for many Yemenis, cent - and in some cases even and obstructs the while fighting continues in more. However, the countries humanitarian response many areas of the country. Since that made the largest pledges, P 02 June this year, 120,000 more Yemen's neighbours in the people have fled their homes Coalition, have so far paid only a Cholera stalks Yemen two due to conflict while 375 access modest proportion of the amount years after 2017 outbreak incidents where aid was blocked they pledged. As a result, the P 03 or delayed were reported in April Humanitarian Response Plan 2019 and May. A UN assessment of a is currently just under 34 per cent 7,508 Children killed or decaying oil tanker that threatens funded, compared with 60 per maimed since 2013 to spill 1.1 million barrels of oil cent at the same time a year ago. into the Red Sea was delayed P 04 WFP provided food assistance as the necessary permits could to 11 million beneficiaries in Delays in approving not be secured, Mr. Lowcock June, reaching more people than humanitarian projects leave indicated. A spill from the tanker ever before. While food aid is 2.6 Million people at risk could reach from Bab el Mandeb not immediately threatened, to the Suez Canal and potentially P 05 underfunding is curtailing the as far as the Strait of Hormuz, humanitarian response in other resulting in a major disaster for areas. Agencies are already the environment, shipping lanes suspending support to medical and the global economy. facilities that serve 9 million people The humanitarian response and are starting to suspend regular remains severely underfunded. At vaccination campaigns targeting 13 the High-Level Pledging Event for million people, including 200,000 this year’s humanitarian response infants. The nutrition response is plan, which the Secretary-General threatened, with work on 30 new convened in February, donors feeding centres in areas with the 2 worst levels of hunger halted and another 60 the ERC warned. This could mean an end to more threatened with closure in coming weeks, shelter assistance for more than 800,000 displaced putting at least 7,000 malnourished children at people, and the closure of reproductive health immediate risk of death. Up to 21 more key UN services for over a million impoverished women. programmes could close in the next two months,

Conflict in Al Dhale’e increases civilian casualties and obstructs the humanitarian response

In 2019, Al Dhale’e Governorate became one Since November 2018, intensifying hostilities of the most conflict-affected governorates in have caused three waves of displacement in Al Yemen. Fighting, which first flared up in the Dhale’e, starting in Damt District in November governorate in November 2018, intensified in 2018, then in Al Husha District in February, late March 2019, affecting Qa’atabah, Damt, Al and most significantly, in Qa’atabah in late Azariq and Ad Dhale’e districts causing mass March, when 2,500 families were displaced. displacement. In April, fighting spilled over Across the governorate, 10,375 families (around into An Nadirah and Ba’dan in southern Ibb. As 72,625 people) were displaced in the first half of early July, the frontlines in the governorate, of 2019. People displaced from Al Dhale’e have especially those in Qa’atabah District, continued been scattered in more than 77 districts across to be the most active in Yemen. Yemen, but most continue to reside in the governorate, in many cases in the same district. The progression of the conflict has resulted As of 30 June, 3,174 families were displaced in in a significant number of casualties. In 2019, Qa’atabah District, 2,593 families in Ad Dhale’e Al Dhale’e witnessed the largest year-on-year District, and 1,063 families in Al Azariq District. increase in conflict-related deaths in Yemen. The Protection Cluster’s Civilian Impact Humanitarian partners based in Aden and Monitoring Project (CIMP) reported 237 Ibb continue to support vulnerable people civilian causalities in Al Dhale’e since November from Al Dhale’e. As of 17 July, humanitarian 2018. The figures reported by CIMP indicate partners were able to provide emergency food an eight-fold increase in the number of civilian assistance to 11,852 families across Al Dhale’e. casualties in the three months following the In addition, Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) surge of hostilities in the governorate in late assistance kits were provided to 8,666 families March, compared to the previous three months. and non-food items to 5,338 families, and more CIMP figures also show that two-thirds of than 2,000 families received Multi-Purpose civilian casualties in the governorate in 2019 Cash Assistance. In the second quarter of 2019, were reported in Qa’atabah District. shelter assistance was provided to 1,041 families, 776 families were provided with access to safe The Office of the High Commissioner for water, and 1,197 families benefited from health Human Rights (OHCHR) was able to verify promotion activities. 78 civilian casualties, including 32 fatalities, in Al Dhale’e in the first half of 2019, more than Six mobile health teams continue to provide two-thirds of which recorded after the surge of health and nutrition assistance in areas of high violence in the governorate in late March. displacement across the Al Dhale’e Governorate. Health partners provided medical supplies,

Civilian casualites in Al Dhale’e Governorate Killed Injured Total

1 1 5 11 2 5

JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE 3 emergency equipment and trauma kits to the Al difficult to transport humanitarian assistance Naser General Hospital in Ad Dhale’e City. In from Aden to Sana’a and other northern addition, with support from partners, a surgeon governorates. The closure of key roads has has been deployed to the hospital and incentives forced humanitarian partners to take longer have been provided to hospital medical staff. routes to transport assistance, through Taizz, Al Baydah and Shabwah governorates, often Conflict in Al Dhale’e has had negative passing through insecure areas with numerous ramifications on humanitarian operations in checkpoints, significantly delaying the delivery other parts of Yemen. In November 2018, of assistance, while increasing costs. Trucks fighting in Damt District caused the closure carrying assistance take more than 60 hours of one of the major routes connecting Aden to travel between Aden and Sana’a, about four and Sana’a, forcing humanitarian partners to times longer than before the closure of the roads rely on another route going through Qa’atabah through Al Dhale’e, increasing transport costs District. In late April, fighting also rendered the by 60 per cent. second road inaccessible, making it increasingly

Cholera resurgence stalks Yemen two years after 2017 outbreak

In 2017, Yemen experienced the world’s worst implementation of programmes. For example, cholera outbreak, with more than one million despite the urgent needs on the ground, as of suspected cholera cases reported. Since then, the 15 July 2019, none of the 11 cholera projects deteriorating humanitarian situation, coupled supported by the Yemen Humanitarian Fund with the lack of a functioning health system and (YHF) implemented by NGOs have been limited access to safe water and hygiene facilities, approved by the authorities in Yemen. Through has made it difficult to control the spread of these projects, YHF planned to target 546,000 the disease in a systematic manner. Despite people at risk in 12 governorates. these challenges, in 2018 humanitarian partners The cholera risk continues, exacerbated by the implemented countrywide vaccination campaigns current rainy season. WHO and other Health reaching 992,535 people, contributing to curbing and WASH partners recognize the need to scale the spread of the epidemic. up preparedness activities in anticipation of Despite the reduction in the number of reported another potential outbreak. To this end, WHO, cases, cholera did not disappear from the UNICEF and other partners in the Health and country. Since February 2019, the number of WASH clusters have set up over 1,200 Diarrhea suspected cholera cases reported each week Treatment Centres and Oral Rehydration Corners started to increase, peaking at over 29,500 cases in 147 priority districts. From 1 January to 30 at the beginning of April and stabilizing in April, WASH Rapid Response Teams reached 5.7 early July. A total of 451,895 suspected cholera million individuals with hygiene items, household cases were reported in the first 6 months of water treatment chemicals and hygiene awareness 2019, compared to 380,000 cases in the whole information. In addition, 7.4 million people of 2018. So far this year, 705 deaths associated benefited from improved water supply systems with cholera have been reported, including provided by WASH Cluster partners. 200 children. Children under age 5 represented WHO is procuring around 11,000 cholera kits, 23.4 per cent of total suspected cases during the 240 of which have already been distributed first half of 2019. The outbreak has affected 22 to health facilities in 60 districts. The agency governorates and 299 of Yemen’s 333 districts. continues to provide training to health care Lack of funding is curtailing the ability of workers and laboratory technicians to enhance humanitarian partners to stem the spread of case management and detection. WHO and cholera. As of 25 July, the WASH and Health other partners have targeted 2.6 million clusters are 30.6 per cent and 19.4 per cent Yemenis deemed to be most at risk with the oral funded respectively, at the same time last year, cholera vaccination since 2018 and are planning funding levels were 33.8 per cent and 32.5 per more vaccination campaigns for 2019. WHO cent. In Sana’a, an agricultural water treatment plans to continue the disbursement of incentives plant supported by the UN is closing, increasing to health workers and rapid response teams, and the possibility that vegetables irrigated with provided 1.7 billion Yemeni rials (YER - around untreated sewage water make its way to the $3.09 million) in incentives to health workers city’s 4 million residents, putting them at risk of in the first quarter of 2019. Nonetheless, contracting cholera. the current funding climate may affect the organization’s ability to sustain the response. Partners continue to contend with access and bureaucratic impediments, which delay the 4 Civilians casualties remain high - 7,508 children killed or maimed since 2013

The conflict continues to devastate the lives of and 2015, as fighting intensified, a 650 per cent ordinary Yemenis, who are killed and injured increase in the number of children killed and by fighting. OHCHR reported between March maimed was recorded. 2015 and May 2019, 7,243 civilian casualties, The Special Representative’s report also and 11,545 people injured. Between January and provided information on attacks on schools May 2019, 908 civilian casualties were verified and hospitals and obstructions to humanitarian (318 fatalities and 590 people injured). In June access. Of 381 attacks on schools and hospitals 2019 the number of civilian casualties fell to during the reporting period, 345 led to the 134, down from 237 in May. partial or complete destruction of buildings. Violence against children was documented in Denial of humanitarian access to children the second report on Yemen by the Special sharply increased, the report documented Representative of the Secretary General on 828 incidents where humanitarian access was Children and Armed Conflict, Ms. Virginia denied. The monitoring and verification of Gamba. The report, published at the end of grave violations against children was hampered June, highlighted 7,508 verified cases between by security and access restrictions and, like April 2013 and December 2018 where children other verification mechanisms, is likely to were killed or maimed from airstrikes, shelling, underestimate the number of child casualties, ground fighting, mines and unexploded and other human rights violations. ordnance or suicide attacks. Between 2014

Food markets remained stable in may 2019, though underlying risks persist In the latest edition of Market Watch, WFP EXCHANGE RATE reported that food markets were generally stable in May but that underlying risks of supply side During the reporting period, the official shocks may lead to a further depreciation of exchange rate remained fixed at YER440/ the Yemeni rial (YER) and a rise in consumer US$. WFP reports that the rial partly reversed prices. The average cost of the minimum food short term gains and depreciated by 4.5 per basket per person per month - composed of cent against the US$ to YER533/US$ in May, wheat flour, vegetable oil, red beans, sugar and compared to an appreciation of 12.9 per cent in salt - decreased by 1 per cent, reaching YER April. The downward trend started in the third 4,692, but remained double the pre-crisis price. week of April and continued until the end of However, in a few governorates there has been May 2019 when the rial was 61 per cent down a steep monthly increase, including in Taizz (12 compared to pre-crisis levels (February 2015). per cent), Sana’a (10 per cent) and Al Mahra WFP indicated that the key risks affecting (8 per cent), while others have experienced a availability and access to food markets include notable decrease in the cost of the minimum continued speculation on the rial on the black food basket, including Amran (-13 per cent), market and increasing monetization of the fiscal Al Jawf and Dhamar (-9 per cent), Sana’a City, debt (money printing), which are expected Shabwa and Rayma(-5 per cent). to increase inflationary pressures. Shortages in banking sector liquidity and persistent and increasing conflict in hot spot areas, including Ad Dhale’e, Al Hudaydah and Hajjah, continue to affect trade flows and supply chains of food and non-food commodities. 5 Delays in approving humanitarian projects leave 2.6 million people at risk

In the year to date, the Yemen Humanitarian Overall, 2.6 million Yemenis are affected by Fund (YHF) allocated $144m to 75 projects in 3 the delays. On average, projects are delayed by funding allocations. Sixty-four of the projects, 88 days from the anticipated start date and 58 worth $73 million, are implemented by NGOs days since requests for approval were sent to the and Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies. As of 14 authorities. Thirty-one projects aimed at people July, the authorities had only approved 15 of the at risk of famine living in internally displaced 2,1 T NGO projects (23 per cent), the 49 remaining persons sites were not approved, leaving over D CMMDITI projects, worth $58 million, are yet to start. 1.8m people without the assistance they need.

UN verification and inspection mechanism for Yemen

Al Hudaydah and Saleef ports remain operational. at Saleef, discharging a total of 720,042 metric Between 12 June 2019 and 23 July 2019, 31 tons (MT) of cargo – 426,471 MT of food vessels berthed at Al Hudaydah, and 7 berthed commodities and 293,571 MT of fuel supplies.

29,51 T L LI Funding of the 2019 YHRP

Humanitarian agencies operating in US$4.19 billion to provide assistance to more Yemen are facing a severe funding shortfall than 20 million Yemenis but is only 33.7 per cent despite increasing needs. The 2019 Yemen funded. Humanitarian agencies are appealing to Humanitarian Response Plan (YHRP) requires donors to provide funds as quickly as possible.

Funding status of the 2019 YHRP (as of 30 July 2019) , T FNDING STATS AL HDAYDAH

T 251,92 bn bn bn AL 19 11 2 DD IMT DD TILL DD

For further information, please contact: TO 10 DONORS unding received in millions unded Sebastien Trives Head of Office, UN-OCHA A 288.7 20.5% Yemen 163.6 11.6% Tel: +967 712 222 800 E-mail: [email protected] A 160 11.3% Federica CHACD 152.5 10.8% D’Andreagiovanni Head of Communication, A 123.2 8.7% UN-OCHA Yemen ermany 98.6 7% Tel: +962 79 687 6082 E-mail: apan 39.9 2.8% [email protected] Canada 32.3 2.3% OCHA information C 31.7 2.2% products are available at: www.unocha.org/yemen weden 26.9 1.9% www.unocha.org www.reliefweb.Int *European Commission's Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Department