Yemen

Yemeni internally displaced persons (IDPs), who left their homes when al-Qaeda swept into southern Abyan Province, now temporarily reside in a public school in Aden Governate.

AFP

Since 2004, conflict between the Republic of Yemen Government (RoYG) and al-Houthi opposition forces has affected more than 1 million people and repeatedly displaced populations in northern Yemen, resulting in the need for humanitarian assistance.  Sporadic clashes and isolated violent incidents continue to result in insecurity and limited humanitarian access, hindering large-scale population returns to Sa’dah and Al Jawf governorates, as well as northern areas of Amran Governorate.

Recent political instability and economic crisis, rising fuel and food prices, high rates of unemployment, conflict, and conflict-related displacement have left as many as half of Yemen’s 24 million people food insecure.  Of these individuals, 22 percent—or 5.3 million people—are severely food insecure, with 1 million children nationwide suffering from acute malnutrition.

Yemen also hosts a significant number of refugees and migrants, the majority from the Horn of Africa, who are also in need of humanitarian assistance.  More than 220,000 Somali refugees resided in Yemen as of July 2012.  More than 100,000 migrants and asylum seekers from the Horn of Africa arrived in Yemen in 2011, and, during the first five months of 2012, more than 51,000 individuals arrived to Yemen, with the majority from Ethiopia.

HUMANITARIAN FUNDING TO YEMEN IN FY 2013*

*These figures are current as of May 9, 2013

Key Developments

More than 87 percent of IDPs in southern Yemen have returned to areas of origin since July 2012 as a result of improved security conditions, according to the U.N. However, less than 11 percent of IDPs in northern Yemen have returned home due to protracted insecurity. A lack of basic services is an issue in both northern and southern areas.

Incidents of exploitation, as well as physical and sexual abuse, against refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants in Yemen are on the rise despite government efforts to curb trafficking, according to UNHCR.

To address the health and acute humanitarian needs of Ethiopian migrants in Yemen, State/PRM recently provided $350,000 to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to assist migrants in the town of Haradh, Hajjah Governorate.

In early May, USAID/FFP provided a second contribution to the U.N. World Food Program (WFP) Emergency Operation (EMOP) of 20,280 metric tons (MT) in emergency food assistance, valued at approximately $19.8 million. In April, USAID/OFDA provided more than $1.6 million to the Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED) to help restore the livelihoods and food security of vulnerable people in Ad Dali’, Al Hudaydah, Ibb, and Raymah governorates.