Joint Rapid Assessment of the Northern Governorates of Yemen

As a result of the ongoing insurgency between Al- Houthi militia and the Government of Yemen (GOY) there have been severe disruptions of basic services, destruction of civil infrastructure, lack of security for local populations, and consecutive displacement of large numbers of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

An estimated number of one million people have been affected by the conflict, while the UNHCR has reported the forced migration of 320,000 IDPs to neighbouring governorates since the conflict’s inception. Although an estimated 15% of IDPs have returned to their homes, the vast majority of families remained displaced due to fear of insecurity, damaged homes, and a lack of livelihood opportunities and basic services. Women and children account for about 80% of those affected (Save the Children, 2011). Further, recent political developments at both local and national levels cause further displacement, with reports from some agencies indicating a steady influx of small numbers of newly displaced people from Sa’ada to neighbouring governorates.
The Al-Houthi take-over of Sa’ada centre in March 2011 led to the displacement of an additional 15,000 people, adding to the pre-existing caseload of 225,000 IDPs, 97,000 returnees, and 116,830 war- affected but non-displaced people attributable to the conflict in the north.
Humanitarian needs of conflict-affected populations - IDPs, returnees and host communities – exacerbate existing vulnerabilities of affected communities in northern governorates, including acute poverty, poor basic services and limited resources. The confluence
of protracted emergency and underlying development challenges has deepened existing vulnerability and depleted the coping mechanisms of both IDP and host community households.

Government capacities continue to be overwhelmed by recent service demands and authorities and are unable to operate in some locations due to the conflict. Accessibility remains a key challenge, as low scale fighting, tribal checkpoints and violent criminal conduct can result in service interruptions, limited movement, and harm for agency personnel. Despite ongoing insecurity and difficult operating environments, humanitarian agencies continue to provide emergency assistance to conflict-affected populations.
However, humanitarian actors have made significant gains since launching their current response. This has recently been supported by increased collaboration of UN and INGO agencies under the IASC Cluster System, including access monitoring and security coordination, and continued dialogue between agencies, belligerents and communities. Although accessibility of humanitarian agencies to some areas of Al-Jawf, Amran and Sa’ada remains challenging, operational reach has grown during late 2010 and early 2011, and comprehensive access has been established in Hajjah.