Humanitarian Context
Displacement has contributed to rises in needs across sectors – particularly shelter and NFIs, for which about 2.8 million IDPs and host community members currently require support.
As of mid-October, over 2.3 million people were displaced within Yemen, and at least 121,000 people – mainly third country nationals – had fled the country. Large-scale internal displacement began in Lahj and Al Dhale’e in late March as armed clashes escalated in the south, quickly forcing nearly 250,000 people from their homes. Intensifying air strikes in the north also led to mass displacements, primarily in Sa’ada,
Amran and Hajjah. In parallel to mass displacement events, people in affected areas have continuously sought safety in steady movements out of conflict areas.
Food security has continued to deteriorate, with initial analysis estimating that 14.4 million people are now food insecure – including 7.6 million who are severely food insecure.
Female-headed households experience higher levels of food insecurity than male-headed households. Food availability has improved somewhat since June, but basic commodities remain only sporadically available in a majority of governorates as of mid-October, and several remain completely unavailable in Taiz. Despite modest market improvements, food may remain out of reach due to unaffordability. Partners estimate that half of conflict-affected people have seen their livelihoods destroyed as a result of the crisis, meaning they are even less equipped to absorb prises rises and other shocks.
Three in four Yemenis are unable to meet their basic WASH needs – a result of long-standing vulnerabilities aggravated by six months of conflict.
Already the seventh most water-scarce country in the world, an estimated 19.3 million people in Yemen now require humanitarian assistance to ensure access to safe drinking water and sanitation, of whom 9.8 million are in need as a direct result of the conflict. Local water corporations continue to struggle to secure fuel supplies to power piped networks.
Commercial water trucks – the main source of water for many communities – are reportedly between two and four times more expensive and are in some cases unable to enter affected areas due to insecurity – or are prevented from doing so by parties to the conflict. Uncollected waste, especially in urban areas, is exacerbating risks of public health crises.
An estimated 14.1 million people need support to ensure access to basic healthcare and about 2 million are currently acutely malnourished, including 1.3 million children – 320,000 of whom are suffering from severe acute malnutrition.
Medical supplies for mass casualty management and medicine for chronic diseases are in increasingly short supply. Nearly 600 health facilities have stopped functioning due to damage or lack of fuel, staff and supplies. Patient consultations at health facilities have decreased by approximately 20 per cent since the conflict began, and reporting rates for Yemen’s disease surveillance system are currently at 71 per cent – considerably lower than the 94 per cent pre-crisis average in early 2015. With ongoing violence posing risks of injury and compounding risks of disease outbreaks, accessible healthcare and disease surveillance are urgent priorities. Needs in the nutrition sector have continued to rise. An estimated 3 million people now require treatment or preventive services for malnutrition.
The conduct of hostilities has been brutal since fighting escalated in mid-March. As of 16 October, health facilities had reported 32,307 casualties (including 5,604 deaths) – an average of 153 injuries or deaths every day.
Conflict escalated rapidly from mid-March as Coalition forces intensified air strikes and ground clashes spread – mainly pitting Houthi/Saleh forces against local fighters in the south.
By mid-April, heavy clashes, indiscriminate shelling and air strikes were entrenched in fiercely contested areas of the south.
Front-line areas –including Aden, Sa’ada, Taiz and areas along the Saudi border – have been devastated by sustained fighting, shelling or airstrikes. As of mid-October, partners estimate that 14 million people require assistance to protect their basic rights – a 23 per cent increase since June.