Humanitarian Relief for Yemen

Flood assessment and humanitarian relief in Yemen

Yemen continues to face the world’s largest humanitarian crisis and an extremely high — 29% — mortality rate for COVID-19. In August, Yemen also faced torrential rains and extreme flooding, which damaged infrastructure, destroyed homes and shelters, and led to deaths and injuries. According to UN reports, an estimated 300,000 people lost their homes, livelihoods, income, belongings, and food.

According to early August 7, 2020 figures from Yemen’s Ministry of Health and Population, an estimated 131 people have died due to the floods and 125 were injured across northern governorates alone. An additional 106 homes and businesses were destroyed and another 156 were damaged. To assist flood-stricken areas our team:

• Conducted an assessment of the flood’s impact in Hodeida and Raemah governorates and identified the needs. The items identified as essential were food and shelter.
• Conducted an assessment of the needs of people whose homes were damaged by the rain in the Old City of Sana’a, the UNESCO heritage site, to ensure that our response takes into account the work that is being done by UNESCO, who is leading efforts to preserve the homes and the city. We plan to provide assistance that meets the need of the population.
• Provided monthly financial support to 400 orphans across the country, including Sana’a, Aden, Hodeida, Ibb, Taiz, Hajjah, and other areas.
• Continued our food distribution efforts across the country by providing meat to 5,596 families in honor of Eid, the feast of sacrifice. This is the only time in the year these families will have access to eat meat.

According to UN figures, an estimated 20 million people are food insecure, two-thirds of Yemenis are hungry, and nearly half do not know when they will eat their next meal. Yemeni families have been forced to reduce how much they eat and the quality of their meals.

To combat these challenges, in September we distributed food baskets with essential food items to 2,720 families across Yemen, including Hajja, Taiz, Aljawf, Dhamar, Sanaa, Raemah, Aden, Lahj, Saada, Radaa, Ibb, and Almahweet. In October 2020, we distributed food baskets to 2190 families.

 Income generation projects in Yemen

According to the UNDP, an estimated 79% of families in Yemen live under the poverty line. Through our ongoing income generation projects, we aim to provide families with a sustainable way to get nourishment and increase income.

• Provided 25 families with 2 sheeps each, totaling 50 as part of a sheep-raising income generation project in Jabal Sabr in Taiz. These sheep provide protein and nourishment to families in need, as well as income.
• Provided 30 families with 3 sheeps each, totaling 90 as part of a sheep-raising income generation project in Hodeida as well.
• Provided 50 families in Zabid, Hodeida with 2 sheep each, totaling 100 as part of a sheep-raising income generation project. These sheep provide protein and nourishment to families in need, as well as income.
• Provided 100 families in Hajja with 5 hens and one rooster each, totaling 500 as part of an egg-laying hens income generation project. These hens provide eggs, protein, and nourishment to families in need, as well as income through sales of extra eggs and offsprings. 

Thanks for supporting our aid efforts in Yemen