Yemen - Emergency Water Hygiene and Livelihoods Assistance – Action Against Hunger 2019-2020

March 2019 - Yemen is currently the world’s largest humanitarian crisis with 24.1 million people in need of humanitarian assistance including 14.3 million that require immediate life-saving assistance. The conflict and collapsing economy has pushed nearly 10 million people to the brink of famine and a total of 4.3 million people have been displaced over the last four years. Yemen is also facing one of the worst cholera epidemics in recorded history as well as a diphtheria outbreak the scale of which is compounded by the dire state of water sanitation and hygiene infrastructure and health services. Nearly half of health facilities have been destroyed or are only partially functioning stocks of medical supplies are low and many health professionals are working for free or receiving substantially reduced wages. Women and girls are disproportionately affected by the lack of access to essential services and face an increased risk of sexual and gender-based violence due to the crisis. With GAC’s support Action Against Hunger is providing emergency food livelihoods water sanitation and hygiene to up to 71 000 conflict-affected people in the Lahj and Abyan governorates in the south of Yemen. This project aims to reduce the risk of cholera and the use of negative coping mechanisms within the targeted communities paying particular attention to the needs of women and girls. Project activities include: (1) providing cash assistance; (2) promoting hygiene (including menstrual hygiene); and (3) rehabilitating water and sanitation facilities.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) increased use of gender-sensitive food security services for the most vulnerable conflict-affected groups; and (2) increased gender-sensitive use of essential water sanitation and hygiene services by the most conflict-affected populations with a particular focus on women and girls’ safety and dignity. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crisis or that are facing acute food insecurity.