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REPORT: YEMEN EMERGENCY FOOD RESPONSE 2019
9-04-2019
Yemen is in the midst of the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. Unsettling violence and conflict lasting nearly four years have resulted in severe economic decline and the collapse of essential services, institutions, and infrastructure.
Since March 2015, intensifying conflict and violence has driven over 20 million people; approximately two-thirds of the population into a severe food security crisis with many having experienced significantly reduced incomes and decreased household purchasing power. As outlined in Yemen: Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Snapshot during December 2018 - January 2019, approximately 53% of the Yemeni population is severely food insecure despite the presence of humanitarian food assistance (HFA). The IPC estimates that in the absence of HFA, 67% of the population; approximately 20.1 million people would require urgent action.
Among those most affected by the severe food insecurity crisis in Yemen include internally displaced persons (IDPs), host families, refugees, impoverished and marginalized groups and those residing in high conflict areas. IDPs have been forced to cope with widespread food and water scarcity, poor shelter conditions, a deteriorating economy and the collapse of essential health care services. The crisis in Yemen is having particularly devastating impacts on children as millions continue to suffer moderate to severe acute malnutrition. The threat of prolonged famine is high for some of the worst affected Yemeni governorates.
Project Activities
In response to the food security crisis in Yemen, IDRF in partnership with the BC Muslim Community of Canada provided food packages consisting of locally procured food items to 10,600 IDPs who fled escalating conflict and violence in Hodaidah to Mukalla city and are currently residing in the Abian and Lahj camps. There are approximately 40,000 IDPs currently living in Lahj and 20,000 IDPs in Abian camp. There are an additional 5,000 people in makeshift camps around Mukalla residing in plastic and wooden framed shelters with extremely poor hygiene and sanitation conditions, contributing to further health problems.
Project activities included the sourcing, procurement, packaging and distribution of local, in-country food items. Food distributions were held for 1,330 families. The food packages that were distributed contained 20 kg flour, 20 kg rice, 10 kg sugar, 3kg milk powder, 5 cans of pulses, 4 litres of oil and 500 grams of biscuits. The food parcels were packaged in Mukalla at the warehouses and transported to Abian via trucks. The head of the Abian Governorship's Immigration Coordination Unit was also present at the distribution. The distribution was completed after beneficiary verification lists were checked, which were prepared before the distribution. Food packages were distributed by in-country partner staff and 10 volunteers from beneficiary families at the Garden of Amudia Elementary School location in Abian.
The contents of the food packages were based on availability at local markets, accounting for price fluctuations and the availability of local food items. Each food package will provide families with a secure source of food for a period of two months. The kit contents are calculated based on the Sphere standards of 2000 calories per day/individual. In total, 10,600 individuals benefitted from this project's food distribution.
Project beneficiaries were selected accordingly based on specific need and vulnerability criteria, such as female-headed and low-income households, those with disabilities and overall family size. The direct beneficiaries of this project were the most vulnerable IDPs who fled from Hodaidah and are currently residing in substandard shelters in Mukalla, within Abian and Lahj camps. Through the project period, BC Muslim Community’s generous contribution ensured that the immediate nutritional needs for beneficiaries were met. As a direct result of this partnership, we were able to successfully reduce cases of malnutrition amongst children and bring individuals out of starvation mode, saving lives.
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