A budget increase and extension-in-time is proposed to emergency operation (EMOP) to enable WFP to provide urgently needed food assistance to 416,800 people affected by the conflict in northern Yemen. The current end-date of the EMOP is 31 July 2011.

The ongoing conflict between the Government of Yemen and the Houthi rebels in northern Yemen, particularly in Sa’ada governorate, has erupted sporadically since 2004, resulting in six rounds of heavy fighting and displacement of more than 340,000 persons across northern Yemen. The sixth round of conflict ended with a ceasefire agreement on 11 February 2010, with both parties agreeing to abide by a six-point ‘peace plan’. However, progress towards peace remains limited, whilst low-level clashes between both parties and their tribal supporters have led to increased insecurity in areas of northern Yemen, difficulties in reaching the affected populations, and an increased likelihood of a seventh round of fighting.

Most internally displaced persons (IDPs) are reluctant to return to their place of origin because of the ongoing insecurity, presence of landmines, damaged infrastructure, homes and farms, lack of reconstruction and social services in areas devastated by fighting, coupled with the threat of further conflict. The affected population is scattered across the northern governorates of Sa’ada, Hajjah, Amran and Al-Jawf, and in the capital city of Sana’a. Some IDPs are living in established camps but most IDPs (approximately 75 percent) are scattered in spontaneous settlements or are living with host communities. WFP assessments have found that the protracted nature of the displacement has led many IDPs to exhaust their coping mechanisms, increasing their vulnerability, food insecurity and reliance on humanitarian assistance.

During the previous EMOP “Humanitarian Assistance to IDPs in Sa'ada Governorate” (Yemen 10684), which ended on 31 July 2010, the beneficiary planning figures were increased from 100,000 to 285,000 IDPs in response to fresh outbreaks of fighting, while the scope of the operation was broadened from a geographic focus on Sa’ada to other northern governorates. The number of beneficiaries is expected to continue to gradually increase in view of continuing instability.

Under this new EMOP, “Food Assistance to Conflict-Affected Persons in Northern Yemen”, WFP will continue to save lives and protect the livelihoods of internally displaced people (WFP Strategic Objective 1) by providing appropriate food and nutritional assistance to the most affected population groups. The EMOP supports Millennium Development Goals (MDG) 1 and 4.

The EMOP will cover an initial caseload of 285,000 IDPs, gradually expanding to approximately 315,000 IDPs and returnees by July 2011. The average number of beneficiaries is expected to be 300,000 persons.

Through this EMOP, WFP will provide food and nutritional assistance to accessible and registered IDPs and returnees through the following components:

General food distribution for all IDPs.

Blanket supplementary feeding for IDP children aged 6-59 months (6-24 months in selected governorates) where targeted treatment for moderate acute malnourished is available.

Food for work to support the rehabilitation of community infrastructure, to be implemented once the displaced are able to return.

By introducing food-for-work activities, the EMOP envisages a gradual shift from life-saving emergency assistance to more robust early recovery in northern Yemen. However a full phase-out of the EMOP will be dependent on the return of displaced persons or their integration/resettlement within local communities and restoration of their self-reliance.

The EMOP will be implemented in close cooperation with the Government’s newly established Executive Unit for Internally Displaced Persons, and in partnership with cooperating partners Islamic Relief Yemen and the Adventist Development and Relief Agency. In Sa’ada governorate, food-for-work schemes will be coordinated with the Government’s Sa’ada Reconstruction and Development Fund which is mandated to oversee the reconstruction of infrastructure and buildings damaged or destroyed by conflict.

Countries

Yemen

  Yemen is facing an increasingly complex and deteriorating humanitarian situation which is leaving many families in a hunger trap and absolute poverty.  The country is one of the world’s most food insecure and least developed....