SANA’A, YEMEN (January 26, 2010) – While world leaders meet in London tomorrow to discuss security and development issues in Yemen, CARE is reminding the international community of the desperate need of nearly 230,000 civilians – mainly women and children – displaced by fighting in the country’s north.
Approximately 230,000 people have now been officially registered for assistance in northern Yemen, and up to 800,000 have been indirectly affected by the fighting. Most of the displaced are not living in camps but are scattered among host communities, putting additional strain on poor families, or stranded in family groups in isolated rural settings.
Harsh weather conditions are making the situation worse for displaced people, many of whom are living in makeshift shelters or tents or in crowded camps. Prices of basic goods and rents are soaring, and the UN is reporting a growing incidence of illness among the displaced people, particularly children. The most urgent needs of the displaced people and their host communities remain protection, food, water and sanitation, shelter, essential domestic items and access to health care.
“Nearly 50 percent of the civilians who fled the fighting in Sa’ada, most of them women and children, have not received any humanitarian assistance since August and need urgent emergency help now,” said Gareth Richards, CARE Country Director in Yemen. “Some of the displaced people have worked briefly as day labourers on the harvest, but the harvest season has come and gone. There’s no more work, no way for these people to provide food and other essentials for themselves and their families.
“While government and international agencies have ensured that people in the camps are receiving some aid, more than half of all those directly affected are outside of the camps. Many thousands still are out of reach of the food and emergency supplies that they need. We need to go to them, to support the people outside of camps as well.”
Since the recent escalation of violence in the north, CARE has been working closely with partner agencies and government authorities, providing hygiene kits for distribution to displaced people, drinking water tanks to families in Amran governorate and logistical support. CARE is prepared to expand our response, but lack of funding for the emergency is hindering relief efforts.
The United Nations launched a funding appeal for US$177 million in December, but has so far reached less than one percent of its funding target. The UN has announced a US$7 million emergency allocation, but this will only begin to address the critical emergency needs.
“The people here need long-term development assistance, and urgent emergency help in the North,” said Richards. “It is sad to see that it took an international security incident for the world to shine a spotlight on Yemen, but we hope that world leaders use this opportunity to prioritize the real needs of people on the ground.
“We have seen the amazing outpouring of support from around the world for the people of Haiti, where CARE is also engaged in major emergency response work. We hope that that generosity can also extend to the people of Yemen. Without funding to the UN and aid groups on the ground, these people are not going to receive the help they deserve.”
For more information or to arrange interviews with staff in Yemen:
Melanie Brooks (in Geneva): +41 79 590 30 47, [email protected]
About CARE: Founded in 1945, CARE is one of the world’s largest humanitarian aid agencies. In nearly 70 countries, CARE works with the poorest communities to improve basic health and education, enhance rural livelihoods and food security, increase access to clean water and sanitation, expand economic opportunity, and provide lifesaving assistance after disasters. CARE has been working in Yemen since 1992, and has long-term development programs in girls’ education, food security and agriculture, support for refugees, water and sanitation, capacity building for local community-based organizations, and emergency response.