Yemen: UNHCR Operational Update, 19 April 2019
Key figures:
24 M people in need
3.65 M displaced since March 2015
More than 80 per cent have been displaced more than a year
1.28 M IDP returnees
264,921 refugees
9,557 asylumseekers
Funding
USD 198.6 M required for 2019 operations
USD 55.6 M received as of 16 April 2019
IDP Response
Over the first quarter of 2019, the northern governorates have remained the focus of UNHCR’s assessments, emergency distributions and protection assistance. Until March of this year, a total of 16,295 IDPs and vulnerable host community families have been assessed for vulnerability across the country, with 51 per cent of the assessments (8,310 families) conducted in Hudaydah (3,289) and the northern governorates of Hajjah (3,028) and Sa’ada (1,993). In the same period, UNHCR distributed a total of 8,763 core relief items (CRIs) and 4,100 emergency shelter kits (ESKs); 25 per cent of the CRIs and 50 per cent of the ESKs were distributed to IDPs in Hajjah. This year, UNHCR aims to distribute 85,000 CRIs and 45,000 ESKs as a life-saving emergency response, prioritizing the most vulnerable.
The protracted situation continues to weaken the traditional coping mechanisms and resilience such as community and family support. UNHCR in particular emphasizes assisting individuals with psychological trauma who are in need of legal assistance to overcome the ordeal of fleeing their homes and ensuring civil registration that allows access to support platforms. Through partners, UNHCR provides psychosocial support, legal assistance, landmine risk education and emergency cash assistance through eight community centres. As of March this year, 3,446 persons have received legal assistance, 2,351 persons have received psychological support and 970 persons were issued with birth certificates or some form of national identification. The highest number of visits occurred in the central Amran, Amanat Al Asimah and Dhamar and southern Lahij governorate community centres where many IDPs from the surrounding northern governorates of Hajjah, Sa’ada and Al Jawf and Lahij, close to the southern frontlines of Taizz and Hudaydah, arrive seeking safety and protection. Cash assistance continued to be at the forefront of UNHCR’s assistance activities by the end of March, with a total of 48,908 IDP households (some 342,356 individuals) receiving cash assistance to address their protection needs (20,815 families), shelter subsidies (17,413 families) and winterization (10,680).
Refugee Response
Over the first three months of 2019, Somali refugees in the south of the country continue to receive the support of UNHCR. The Sub Office at Aden is assisting the Immigration, Passport and Naturalization Authority (IPNA) on registration and documentation for Somali refugees in the three registration centres at Kharaz, Basateen and Mukalla in the south. By March, 1,031 individuals were processed and issued/reissued with protection documents; 639 were newly registered, allowing them access to public facilities such as health and education.
Action against cholera
The ongoing conflict has led to a deterioration in water and sanitation systems across Yemen and the increase of reported cases of cholera remains a concern.
UNHCR Sub Office Aden, through two health clinics in Kharaz and Basateen, is liaising closely with the Ministry of Health to prevent a return of cholera this year. During the reporting period, there were 18 suspected cholera cases (seven refugees and 11 Yemenis) in the two facilities, of which eight confirmed cases were treated and discharged.
https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/yemen-unhcr-operational-update-19-april-2019
