Projects

Short Description:

Overall goal

The goal of the programme is to assist the conflict affected population in the country, by securing their water supply, providing medical assistance, emergency relief and livelihood support to those in need as well as mitigating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Expected results

The ICRC aims to achieve the following results through the Yemen assistance Programme 2021:

- Improved food consumption for 182,000 people, preventing deaths and countering negative effects of malnutrition, especially permanent developmental and health damages among children and adults;

- Increased food production for 613,000 people that enables vulnerable households to regain self-sufficiency, as well as counter negative coping mechanisms caused by COVID-related livelihoods challenges;

- Improved living conditions for 105,000 people, strengthening their security, resilience and sense of dignity;

- Income generation for 87,500 people improved/secured through provision of cash grants and voucher assistance;

- Improved to water and sanitation infrastructure for 3,305,000 civilians / IDPs and people in detention through rehabilitation & repair, also providing the necessary preconditions to take COVID-related protection measures;

- Improved hygiene situation for patients and staff of medical facilities covering 785 inpatient beds, through upgrading their WASH infrastructure, quarantine and disinfection capabilities;

- Improved (COVID-19 and other epi-/pandemic) preparedness and operational continuity of 29 hospitals, 40 health centres and emergency medical services through provision of medical supplies, PPE and capacity building for staff, as well as upgrading or providing ambulance vehicles;

- Contribute to project continuity of 8 physical rehabilitation centres.

Target group / Beneficiaries

With a contribution of EUR 5 m, the ICRC will be able to reach 206,000 people with following measures:

- 126,000 beneficiaries (civilian & detainees) will benefit from emergency WASH activities that are aimed at checking the spread of COVID-19, rehabilitating infrastructure or installing handwashing stations (covering up to 3,000 people deprived of their freedom in addition to the 123,000 civilians and IDPs);

- 80.000 beneficiaries will receive food and nutritional supplements or cash for buying these items (where feasible)

- 20 clinics, field hospitals or health Centres: The facilities will be supported in their preventative and curative services as well as in their capacity to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. For this purpose, the ICRC will be providing equipment, qualified personnel, trainings and guidance. The estimated number of patients supported by the 20 clinics lies at around 120.000 people.

Local Implementing Partner: Yemen Red Crescent Society (YRC)

Activities

The AutRC will support the following activities, among others:

- Assess the feasibility of CVA assistance in the various areas vs. in-kind

- Beneficiary selection as well as registration

- Food item / Cash / Voucher distributions based on feasibility study

- Train local technicians and engineers to operate and maintain water/sanitation facilities;

- Carry out emergency repairs to address the disruption of essential services;

- Renovate and/or upgrade facilities and living spaces in detention centres;

- Install handwashing stations in IDP camps, quarantine facilities, rural communities and detention centres;

- Provide medicines, PPE and other essential supplies, equipment and staff incentives;

- Organise community outreach activities;

- Conduct monitoring visits and build capacities among health personnel, including in self-protection.

Context

Yemen remains the site of armed conflict and other situations of violence; the fighting is intense and widespread, often involving air strikes and indiscriminate attacks, sometimes taking place in densely populated urban areas. The Saudi Arabia-led military coalition, active since 2015, and Ansarullah continue to launch attacks against each other - the Al-Qaeda in the Arab Peninsula, the Islamic State Group and other armed groups remain active in some parts of the country. The economy continues to collapse as a result of the protracted conflict, while COVID-19 and exceptionally heavy seasonal rains have further exacerbated the dire situation. Despite the violence, migrants continue to pass through Yemen on their way to Saudi Arabia and elsewhere.

Allegations of IHL violations are widespread: tens of thousands of civilians have been reported wounded or killed in the fighting, and health facilities and other public infrastructure are sometimes indiscriminately targeted. Wounded and sick people are unable to obtain timely and proper health services as most hospitals have been seriously handicapped by the lack of medicines, equipment and trained staff – even before the current COVID-19 outbreak. Medical- and other public infrastructure such as water or electricity has been decimated by the fighting. A large part of the population is heavily dependent on humanitarian aid and faces food insecurity. They struggle to obtain or produce food, and to resume or sustain their livelihoods, because of the fighting and movement restrictions. The unavailability of potable water and of adequate sanitation facilities puts many of them at risk of disease or illness. Their safety is also at threat from mines and explosive remnants of war (ERW). Families have been dispersed by armed conflict, detention or migration; thousands of people have gone missing.

The ICRC has made COVID-19 one of its operational priorities and as the pandemic continues to exacerbate the suffering of the people affected by armed conflict in the country, it will ensure that measures against the disease will be incorporated in all its activities.