Abyan Aid Distribution August 2011

Crisis Overview

During the past few months, Yemen has seen a fresh wave of displacement and refugees due to the unrest and heavy fighting. The already stretched resources catering for hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons are at breaking point.

The refugees and IDPs are not the only ones affected, with fuel and food shortages pushing many Yemenis well below the poverty line. According to UN OCHA, the cost of fuel on the black market has risen by over 60% and the cost of bread has soared by 50% in the past few months. According to IRIN, many cannot afford basic food items like bread and some families even skip meals. This particularly puts children at risk, with over half of them malnourished, according to a UN OCHA estimate.

Many international humanitarian organizations have left Yemen, creating a gap in the delivery and coverage of humanitarian assistance. The Emergency Response Fund for Yemen is underfunded, with only over $6 million allocated to respond to this crisis.

In this fluid humanitarian landscape, Humanitarian Forum Yemen is actively responding to the needs of local civil society. Find out more about our Emergency Management Workshops in Aden and Sana'a.

Abyan Aid Distribution

The continuous unrest in the Abyan area has led to as many as 91,000 people fleeing towards Aden City and Lahj. The IDPs are hosted mainly in schools and with host families in the city, who can barely cope themselves. Because of the conflict, access into Abyan is restricted, making the total account for IDPs quite difficult.

Displaced communities and families are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Items such as food, water, shelter, protection and healthcare are vital for survival. According to the UN, some are sheltering in caves. In response to the critical situation for the hundreds of families affected, Humanitarian Forum Yemen has started coordinating an emergency response together with local partners.

In the first instance, potential intervention plans were discussed during a workshop organised by Humanitarian Forum Yemen in Aden. Local organisations identified points of access and needs in several areas in and around Abyan.

The organisations have committed to deliver emergency packages to families in need, which would sustain them for a month. The packages will contain both food and non food items: sugar, rice, oil, flour, tea, water, infant milk, blankets, sheets, tents, cooking utensils, latrines and first aid kits.

A month's supply of essential items costs just $85.

To increase the coverage of the area and reach even more people in need, the organizations will also work in Rasad, Sarar, Khanfir, Lawadr, AL Wade'a, Ahwar, and Mudiyah.

UPDATE

Humanitarian Forum Yemen and its members and partners have distributed emergency relief packages for the people who fled their homes due to the unrest in August 2011. For more pictures, access our Flickr stream. Download the report in English and Arabic.

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