HUMANITARIAN UPDATE

Issue 02 / February 2020

Credit: BBC/ Lyse Doucet Medical airbridge launched

On 3 February, a group of six In a joint statement, senior UN HIGHLIGHTS chronically ill children and their officials indicated that, “Many carers were flown from Sana’a to United Nations entities and several Medical airbridge launched Amman, Jordan for treatment; governments in the region and P 01 a second plane carrying 23 sick around the world have collaborated men, women and children and to get these patients the treatment UN calls for protection of their companions followed on 8 they need abroad, and we are civilians as war casualties February. The flights are part of grateful to them all. The United spike in , Al Jawf and a United Nations/World Health Nations will do what it can to Sana’a governorates Organization (WHO) medical ensure the continuation of the P 02 airbridge operation transporting medical airbridge as a temporary chronically ill Yemenis who cannot solution to reduce the suffering of Humanitarian community get the treatment they need within the Yemeni people until a more reaffirms commitment to country . Many suffer from different sustainable solution is reached in the amid concerns on types of cancers, kidney disease, near future.” shrinking operating space congenital anomalies and other Patients for the flights were selected conditions that require specialist P 03 based on need, and their medical treatment. Aid agencies brace to files were reviewed by the High contain cholera ahead of the The launch of the operation was Medical Committee, a group of rainy season welcomed in a joint statement by medical doctors that work with senior UN leadership in Yemen, local health authorities to guide the P 04 including UN Special Envoy, selection process, and by a global YHF allocates a record Mr. Martin Griffiths, the UN service provider, against a list of $109.4 million to support Humanitarian Coordinator, twelve critical conditions that gaps in the HRP’s first and Ms. Lise Grande and the WHO cannot be treated in Yemen. Many second line response Representative, Dr. Altaf Musani. of the patients who flew to Jordan The flights were an outcome of have already undergone successful P 05 negotiations involving Mr. Griffiths surgeries. Plans are underway for and Ms. Grande, as well as the the next medical airbridge flight governments of Jordan, Egypt and to Egypt. WHO is working with , and were coordinated partners to finalize the patient list by WHO in collaboration with and the date of departure. local public health and population authorities. The medical airbridge is part of the UN’s ongoing humanitarian operation in Yemen. 2 UN calls for protection of civilians as war casualties spike in Marib, Al Jawf and Sa- na’a governorates

The upsurge in hostilities that began in mid-Jan- law parties which resort to force are obligated uary in Marib, Al Jawf and Sana’a governorates, to protect civilians. Five years into this conflict continued into March, causing a spike in civilian and belligerents are still failing to uphold this casualties and damaging civilian infrastructure. responsibility. It’s shocking,” said Ms. Grande. Multiple air strikes hit the Al Hayjah area in In his briefing to the UN Security Council on 18 Al Maslub District, Al Jawf Governorate on 15 February, Mr. Mark Lowcock, the Emergency February killing 34 civilians including 26 children Response Coordinator, echoed the Humanitarian and 6 women and injuring 23 other civilians Coordinator’s sentiments. In another statement including 18 children and one woman. Intense on 20 February, the UNICEF Representative in clashes broke out in Al Hazm City, Al Jawf Yemen, Sara Beysolow Nyanti, called on parties Governorate, on 1 March causing massive dis- to the conflict, “to protect the lives of children by placement of civilians. Heavy fighting, including first and foremost putting an end to this brutal artillery shelling, was reportedly ongoing by late war.” afternoon on 2 March, mainly in the outskirts Just a week before the air strikes in Al Maslub of Al Hazm District. As of 2 March, the overall District, on 7 February, the Al Jafra Hospital and civilian casualty figures and number of displaced Al Saudi Field Hospital were badly damaged by persons was unclear due to continued fighting in fighting in the Majzer District of Marib Gover- the affected. norate, and a paramedic was also injured. Both fa- Humanitarian partners continue to verify civilian cilities, which serve a population of about 15,000 casualty figures and the final figures are expected people, were closed for security reasons at the to be higher. Humanitarian partners deployed time they were hit. In a statement of 10 Febru- rapid response teams to the affected areas to ary, Ms. Grande condemned the attack on public provide first aid to the injured, many of whom facilities as a breach of international humanitar- were transferred for treatment to hospitals in Al ian law. “It is terrible that facilities upon which Jawf and Sana’a. thousands of people depend to survive have been badly damaged.” The Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, Ms. Lise Grande, issued a statement on 15 February Fighting across the three governorates has expressing condolences to the families of those caused further displacement, with an estimated killed and wishing a speedy recovery to those 35,000 people having fled their homes between injured. “Under international humanitarian 19 January and 17 February and humanitarian

Rajuzah Al Humaydat Az Zahir Al Mutun

Al Matammah Al Hazm Khab wa Ash Sha'f

Al Maslub Al Ghayl Al Khalaq Affected Districts

Displacement Majzar destination Arhab Raghwan Nihm

Madghal Al Jid'an Bani Al Harith Hamdan Harib Ma'rib Bani Al Qaramish Hushaysh Sirwah Ma'rib City At Tyal Bidbadah

Al Haymah Sanhan wa Ad Dakhiliyah Bani Bahlul Khawlan Bani Matar Jihanah Bani Dabyan Al Jubah Manakhah Al Haymah At Tyal Al Kharijiyah Bilad Ar Rus Data source: OCHA Partners 3 partners continued to respond to needs. Most included in estimates. Access to Nihm was lim- of those displaced persons are in Marib City ited due to security concerns and in parts of Al and surrounding areas staying in overcrowded Jawf, the response is hindered by lack of access, public buildings, in displacement sites and with mobile telecommunications and partner capaci- the local community. Nearly 5,000 are scattered ty. For details of the humanitarian response see: in Nihm and Bani Hushaysh Ddistrict in Sana’a https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/yemen-dis- Governorate. The actual number of IDPs is placement-marib-sana-and-al-jawf-governor- likely to be higher as many families are staying ates-situation-report-no-2-18 with the host families and may not have been

Humanitarian community reaffirms com- mitment to Yemen amid concerns on shrinking operating space

The European Commission and Sweden hosted point where delivery of life-saving assistance a Humanitarian Senior Officials meeting on the is at risk. A concrete step change is needed in humanitarian crisis in Yemen on 13 February order to continue to provide vital support to in Brussels. All participants at the meeting, who the people of Yemen. All restrictions, obstruc- included donors, United Nations agencies and tions and interference violating humanitarian international non-governmental organizations principles should be removed immediately and (INGOs), expressed a shared concern and com- once and for all.” mitment to act collectively. Donors reaffirmed their full support for the In a joint statement, the Commissioner for Cri- UN, INGOs and other humanitarian organiza- sis Management Janez Lenarčič and the Swedish tions operating in Yemen. Humanitarian and Minister for International Development Co- development organizations agreed on a shared operation Peter Eriksson expressed concern at commitment to remain engaged and ready to the rapidly shrinking humanitarian space. They help the Yemeni population. Part of the com- called on all parties to actively support the UN- mitment includes recalibrating assistance, in- led negotiations aimed at a peaceful solution cluding a downscaling, or even interruption, of to the crisis, to protect civilians and to comply certain operations, if and where delivery of aid with International Humanitarian Law. in accordance with the humanitarian principles is impossible. The commitment also includes a “We brought together the main humanitarian dialogue with all parties and the recent indica- actors engaged in the Yemen crisis, the world tion of willingness to remove constraints for aid largest humanitarian crisis. Needs in Yemen are delivery on the ground needs to be followed up. unprecedented. All humanitarian actors remain The meeting also paid tribute to the work of all firmly committed to continue providing vital our partners who are operating under extreme support to the people of Yemen in line with conditions on the ground. humanitarian principles. We are deeply alarmed at the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian space all over the country. It has reached a breaking

A non-permissive operating environment The Brussels meeting came against a backdrop 8.2 million people in need and have a cumulative of increasing humanitarian access challenges, budget of $280 million. NGO partners reported making Yemen one of the most non-permissive 82 projects pending with authorities in Sana’a and operating environment in the world. Between 41 projects pending with the authorities in . October and November 2019 humanitarian Between October 2019 and February 2020, 69 partners reported 719 access incidents across 141 NGO projects were reported approved. Unim- districts in 20 governorates, an upsurge com- plemented projects have been pending approval pared to 502 incidents reported in August and for over six months on average. Severe challenges September. were reported for those projects pending approv- al with Sana’a authorities, which only approved Persistent delays in project approvals by author- half of the submitted projects since 2019. ities continue to block a timely and effective response. By the end of February, 123 NGO proj- Between October and November, aid agencies ects remain unimplemented, in part or in full, due faced an unprecedented number of delays, denials to authorities’ pending approvals of sub-agree- and blockages in reaching people in need. Up ments. The pending projects target an estimated to 400 incidents of movement restrictions were 4 reported and this is nearly two and a half times that contravene the neutrality and independence higher than in August and September. More than of humanitarian operations, global humanitar- 90 per cent of the reported movement constraints ian standards, and contractual agreements with were reported in the north and these range from international donors continued to affect the aid delays and denials of travel permits impacting operation since 2019. In the south, challenges needs assessments, deliveries of humanitarian associated with securing project sub-agreements, assistance as well as monitoring activities. In the NGO principal agreements and visas were south, Ad Durayhimi and At Tuhayta in Al Hu- reported. daydah Governorate remain hard-to-reach due to Violence against humanitarian personnel and ad hoc restrictions on humanitarian movements. assets remained pervasive, predominantly in the Interference in humanitarian operations by local northern areas. Some 142 separate incidents were authorities continued, with over 148 separate reported in October and November, including 40

OVERVIEW OF THE HUMANITARIAN ACCESS INCIDENTS

separate incidents of violence people affected by incidents of incidents pertain to against humanitarian personnel operational access 719 reported 80% bureaucratic impediments 142 and assets 3.1M constraints

Number of incidents by district XX Number of incidents by governorate 1 -4 - 1 14 - 27 28 - 69

Am. Al Asimah 117

Sa'ada 57 7 4 Al Jawf Hadramaut Al Maharah 64 14 Amran 32 19 Marib Sana'a 4 Raymah 31 Shabwah Dhamar 2 20 15 152 13 Al Bayda 8,000,000 2 Abyan number of people affected by operational access constraints and delays 102 51 Taizz in sub-agreement approvals* Al Dhale'e *the number of people affected by the delays in Lahj 2 sub-agreement approvals is as of 2 February 2020. Aden 2311 Source: OCHA and Partners incidents reported. This predominantly per- incidents of assault, intimidation, arbitrary deten- tained to interference in beneficiary registration, tion and other forms of mistreatment against staff tampering with in-kind aid distributions and and 102 incidents of theft and looting of relief attempts to divert aid. In the north, 146 directives supplies.

Aid agencies brace to contain cholera ahead of the rainy season

The number of suspected cholera cases in- Factors underlying the resurgence of cholera in creased by 132 per cent in 2019, after falling by 2019 included earlier than usual rains, lack of a 64 per cent in 2018 from its peak in 2017, when functioning health system, limited access to safe more than a million suspected cholera cases water and hygiene facilities. Also, access and were reported. This resurgence has given pause bureaucratic impediments and lack of funding. to humanitarian partners, who are doubling While YHF and CERF funds covered Health efforts to prevent further spread of the disease and WASH cluster funding gaps in 2019, re- despite persistent challenges. sources will be required early enough to enable 5 partners to scale up cholera preparedness. so is stepping up monitoring of population movements (especially of IDPs from high-risk In 2019, the increase in suspected cases coincid- locations) and rainfall forecasts. ed with the onset of the rainy season, starting in week 7 (11-17 February) and peaking in week The Health Cluster has also stepped up surveil- 14 (1-7 April). With this year’s rainy season lance efforts and intensified capacity-building fast approaching, Health and WASH cluster efforts, including the training of 125 laboratory partners are stepping up preparedness efforts technicians on sample collection and proper to prevent another significant outbreak. The case reporting, training 952 healthcare work- National Cholera Taskforce and Scientific Com- ers from diarrhea treatment centers (DTCs) in mittee is actively reviewing epidemiological data 118 cholera priority districts on cholera case from previous years to understand trends better management, training 742 health workers from and identify hotspots to be targeted with pre- hospitals, DTCs and Central Public Health paredness and prevention efforts. The taskforce Laboratories on health care waste management is also conducting studies in hotpots to map and infection prevention control, and training transmission patterns, revising the response 459 health workers on surveillance and case plan accordingly. management of five infectious diseases, in- cluding cholera. Furthermore, in coordination The Health and WASH clusters are implement- with MOPHP, WHO is currently training 1,344 ing capacity building activities, coordinating health workers from DTCs in 155 districts on prevention and preparedness efforts in hotspots, cholera case management. and reviewing best practices and lessons learned from 2019 to improve the effectiveness of The Health Cluster has also worked to strength- the response. They are also pre-positioning en the capacity of the Central Public Health essential WASH supplies in priority districts. Laboratory (CPHL). The cluster has developed Informed by the analysis of the data gathered in standard operating procedures and guidelines 2019, partners are implementing targeted pre- for sampling, transportation, and diagnostic paredness and prevention activities in ‘source’ testing for the CPHLs in Sana’a and Aden. It locations. This includes rehabilitating water and provided supplies to CPHLs in Sana’a, Aden sewage networks, increasing efforts to mon- and Al Hudaydah, and organized training on lab itor water quality, and conducting awareness techniques for cholera and acute watery diarrhea in mosques, schools and markets. In addition, (AWD) to 42 CHPL laboratory technicians. It the WASH Cluster is establishing contingency also provided 70,000 cholera rapid diagnostic partnership agreements to be activated in case of tests (RDTs) to DTCs. need with NGO partners and relevant techni- cal authorities. Refresher trainings for Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) are being conducted,

YHF allocates a record $109.4 million to support gaps in the HRP’s first and sec- ond line response

The Yemen Humanitarian Fund recently Abyan. Support is being provided for GBV allocated almost $110million in support of the response services in 15 safe spaces in Al Dhale, priority humanitarian needs, focusing partic- Abyan, Lahj, Taizz, Hudaydah, Sana’a, , ularly on areas where sustained humanitarian and West coast, while mine clearance and dis- assistance and support for critical programming posal will take place in 14 governorates where is required. This is the largest-ever amount allo- 3.35 million square meters of lands will be cated at once by a Country-Based Pooled Fund surveyed or cleared and will benefit 1.8 million (CBPF). The $110million allocation targets all individuals. 22 governorates in Yemen. The Fund continues to support cluster efforts Over $12million of this amount will cover to mitigate the consequences of food insecu- gaps in the provision of critically under-funded rity. It will support livelihood interventions protection services, including community pro- for over 300,000 highly vulnerable agricultural tection centers, Gender-based violence (GBV) and fishery dependent families who are at high safe spaces and mine action. In particular, this risk of becoming acutely food insecure, and allocation will support 10 community centers whose conditions can improve quickly if their and integrated protection response in Aden, Al household income increases beneficiaries in 32 Hudaydah, Lahj, Saada, Sana’a, , Al Dhale, high priority IPC 3 and 4 districts. Specifically, 6

funding will be provided for the distribution of The Fund will continue to champion integrated agricultural and fishery kits, cash programming programming in the IDP response and will help in high priority locations and the distribution to cover gaps in the Rapid Response Mecha- of conditional, and season-specific cash through nism, Health, WASH, Education, CCCM and public works schemes. Shelter/NFI in IDP collective sites and areas hosting large number of IDPs. As part of the This allocation will also help to cover gaps Grand Bargain commitment to support local- in the WASH response in critically affected ization of aid and cash-based programming, districts, including 19 of the 45 districts with the Fund will pilot a 24-month project with a pockets of IPC 5 conditions and previously partner who will be responsible for providing unreached areas including Taiz enclave, Saada, a comprehensive capacity building package Al Bayda, Hajjah, and southern Al Hudaydah. to high priority NNGOs working in critically Funding is also being provided for solidUnconditional waste and unrestricted impacted areas. Overall, 40 of the 74 projects management and collection in priority urban Conditional and unrestrictedfunded include a cash component. centers where it presents a public health risk in 8 major cities in Ibb, Saada, Hajjah, Taiz,Conditional Huday and- restricted dah and Lahj governorates. Unconditional and restricted

NUMBER OF PROGRAMMES AND ALLOCATION BY LOCATION

# Of Programmes* Allocation by district 3,200,001 - 6,400,000 1,250,001 - 3,200,000 507,000 - 1,250,000 1 - 506,000 0

*one project can have several programme components implemented in different governorates which is why the total is greater than 74 funded

SAUDI ARABIA OMAN

Amanat Al Asimah

Sa'ada 2 3 1 13 Al Jawf Hadramaut Al Maharah Hajjah Amran Al Mahwit 3 Marib 2 4 3 Sana'a Shabwah Raymah 1 DhamarDhamar Al Hudaydah 21 Al Bayda Ibb 11 2 10 Abyan

2 ERITREA Taizz 12 Al Dhale'e 1 ETHIOPIA Lahj Aden 5

DJIBOUTI

Data Source: OCHA

SOMALIA 7

For further information, please contact: TOTAL FUNDING INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE YHRP Aiden O′Leary Head of Office, UN-OCHA US$ US$ US$ US$ Yemen E-mail: [email protected] 3.9Bn 3.53 Bn 169 M 409.5 M Total Funding YHRP Including Yemen Outside YHRP Gomo Tapiwa humanitarian funding (YHF) Head of Communication, UN-OCHA Yemen YHRP CONTRIBUTIONS BY DONOR US$ million OUTSIDE YHRP FUNDING Tel: +962 712 222 860 BY DONOR US$ million E-mail: [email protected] Saudi Arabia 971.7 OCHA information United States of America 907.6 Saudi Arabia 245.2 United Arab Emirates 420 products are available United Arab Emirates 69 United Kingdom 255.5 Kuwait 21.9 at: www.unocha.org/ Germany 173.5 Qatar Charity 13.7 yemen ECHO/European Commission 159.8 Germany 12.2 www.unocha.org Others 157.92 United States of America 11.3 www.reliefweb.Int Kuwait 93.4 Denmark 6.8 Japan 40.1 Canada 3.9 Canada 33.2 United Kingdom 3.7 Sweden 32.7 US$ Japan 3.3 CERF 31.7 3 Bn Norway Denmark 29.6 3.53 Australia 2.9 2.7 Donor not specified 27.8 Total fund Swiss Solidarity 2.2 US$ UNICEF National Committees 22.9 inside YHRP New Zealand 1.7 Global Fund 22.3 Sweden including 1.5 409.5 M Republic of Korea 18.2 Italy 1.2 Total fund Norway 17.4 UNICEF National Committees 169 M 1.1 outside YHRP Netherlands 17.3 for YHF France 1 Switzerland 14.4 Others 0.8 Data Source: FTS Switzerland 0.7 Remaining donors: Thani bin Abdullah fund 13, Private funding 10.2, Belgium 9.9, Australia 7.2, Finland 6.3, Italy 6.3, Remaining donors: Qatar 6, Ireland 5.7, Donor unspecified 3.7, France 2.7, Austria 2.2, Luxembourg 1.7, Spain 1.6, Netherlands 0.2, Rahma International Society 0.1, Stichting Vluchteling 1.2, Swiss Solidarity 1.2, Iceland 1.1, Education Above All Foundation 0.6, Belgium 0.1, Sheikh Abdullah Charity Society 0.06, Jersey Overseas Aid 0.5, Ukraine 0.4, Czech Republic 0.3, Rahma International Society 0.3, Kuwait Kuwait Red Crescent Society 0.06, Slovenia 0.05, Friends of Fund 0.1, Malaysia 0.1, Monaco 0.1, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Nouri Charity Society 0.1, Slovakia 0.1 UNFPA 0.03, Andorra 0.01