Yemen - Water Sanitation Hygiene and Livelihoods Assistance - Mercy Corps 2017

March 2017 - Yemen has been suffering from a significant and prolonged humanitarian crisis even before the escalation of the conflict in mid-March 2015. Humanitarian partners estimate that in 2017 there will be 18.8 million people in Yemen who need humanitarian assistance including 10.3 million that require immediate life-saving assistance. More than 3 million people have been displaced and basic service provision is collapsing. According to the Famine Early Warning Systems Network between 7 million and 10 million people in Yemen have no access to safe sufficient and nutritious food. Malnutrition has soared by more than 60 percent since late 2015 and is affecting over 3 million people including 460 000 severely malnourished children. Many health facilities have been destroyed and humanitarian access remains a significant challenge. With GAC’s support Mercy Corps is providing emergency water sanitation hygiene assistance and livelihoods support for up to 82 745 vulnerable people in Aden Lahj and Taiz governorates. Project activities include: (1) providing emergency safe drinking water; (2) rehabilitating sanitation facilities and water supply networks in public buildings; and (3) implementing a cash-for-work program to assist the rehabilitation of community-level water and sanitation systems.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) increased access to safe drinking water; (2) increased access to sanitation facilities; (3) increased access to hygiene supplies; and (4) increased access to financial resources to meet life-saving needs and promote greater self-sufficiency. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or acute food insecurity.