UNHCR
Supplementary Appeal
for IDPs and
Returnees in Yemen
2008
Supplementary Appeal for IDPs and Returnees in Yemen
Executive summary
emergency assistance to the displaced and affected
population.
The Sa’adah Governorate, located in the northern part
of Yemen, bordering Saudi Arabia, comprises 15
districts with a population of nearly 700,000 people.
The capital of Sa’adah is located 240 km from the
country’s capital, Sana’a.
Introduction
The conflict in the Sa’adah Governorate erupted in
2004, when a group calling itself Al-Shabab Al-Momen
(the Faithful Youth), created by a local tribal leader, AlHouthi, clashed with the Yemeni army, following
political disagreements. Since then, there have been
several waves of violence between the Al-Shabab AlMomen fighters and the Yemeni army. The latest
violence erupted in December 2006 and January 2007,
resulting in the displacement of an estimated 42,000
The Governorate of Sa’adah is currently a host to an
estimated 77,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs),
returnees and conflict affected people.
UNHCR, together with other UN agencies, international
and national NGOs and in cooperation with the
Government authorities, are providing protection and
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people who moved from rural areas to the town of
Sa’adah and other secure areas within the
Governorate.
Since January 2007 negotiations between the
Government and Al-Shabab Al-Momen, chaired by the
Government of Qatar, were ongoing, and a cease fire
agreement was signed in early August 2007.This
encouraged many internally displaced persons to
return to their places of origin. However, towards the
end of the year, the situation further deteriorated as the
Al-Shabab Al-Momen fighters and the army clashed in
the district of Haydan, in Sa’adah Governorate,
resulting to new displacements within Sa’adah city and
the opening of a third IDPs camp in the city. Progress
in the peace negotiations chaired by the Qatar team
was realized at the beginning of 2008, and a peace
agreement was signed between the two parties in
January 2008.
Program at a glance
Title
Protection of IDPs and returnees in Sa’adah Governorate, Yemen
Beneficiaries
77,000 IDPs, returnees and local affected population
Time frame
January – December 2008
Total requirements
USD 2,900,444
Context and needs
The majority of IDPs took refuge with relatives and
friends within Sa'adah Governorate and city, while
some ten per cent fled to established IDP camps in and
around Sa'adah city.
The affected population is made up of mainly poor
labourers and their extended stay with host families
represents a significant burden on the hosts in
continuing to provide food and shelter.
The affected population numbers 77,000 persons,
including IDPs, returnees and conflict-affected people.
Two camps accommodate approximately 300 families,
although an increasing number of families are living in
tents inside the city, most of whom are not willing to
move to the camps due to the easy access to services
in the city. Security remains a problem for the majority
of IDPs living outside the city of Sa'adah, and access
by relief agencies is limited.
Protection and assistance to IDPs
2007 Achievements
UNHCR participated in field missions and two surveys
in collaboration with WFP. The surveys identified the
needs and gaps in protection, shelters and camp
management. Findings were shared with the
Government which has approved selected
interventions.
Several protection gaps were also identified in
documentation (ID papers, school certificates), security
in the camps and in places of origin, safe and voluntary
return, landlessness, access to school and health care.
UNHCR is working with the Yemen Red Crescent to
build its capacity in camp management and in reorganization of the camp to mitigate flooding and fire
accidents. The Office also replaced old tents in
preparation for the winter season and UNICEF is
strengthening its presence to support Yemen Red
Crescent in camp sanitation.
UNHCR also assisted Yemen Red Crescent in
distributing tents in Beni Ma’ad, a heavily affected area
outside Sa’adah city. Some of the tents were used as
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classrooms for girls since the local school was
overcrowded and could not admit new students.
The Office organized a two-day protection workshop in
December 2007 to create awareness among
authorities and national NGOs on UNHCR’s mandates
and guiding principles for displaced populations.
Main objectives
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•
•
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Provide protection and assistance to IDPs, returnees and host families in coordination with local authorities and
local NGOs.
Improve the living conditions for the IDPs and returnees currently living in sub-standard conditions.
Provide emergency relief items including tents, and non-food items to the displaced population and returnees.
Promote the search for solutions for IDPs.
Strategy and activities
UNHCR is working with the UN Country
Team, government authorities, local and
international NGOs, and the local
communities in implementing various
assistance activities for the displaced
persons and returnees in Sa’adah
Governorate.
The Office is working closely with the Yemen
Red Crescent in camp management
activities to improve the current living
conditions for the IDPs. Joint camp visits and
group discussions with IDPs will allow
UNHCR to identify needs, and devise
strategies to address protection issues.
UNHCR protection staff will conduct group
discussions in accessible IDP areas to
identify protection risks and gaps, focusing
on women, adolescents and children.
IDP women arrive at Annad camp, Sa’adah. UNHCR
Information and counselling centre is
planned to be established in the city of
landless people. The Office, jointly with Yemen Red
Sa’adah to provide legal assistance to the beneficiaries
Crescent will develop a contingency plan and stocks, to
in coordination with other actors.
respond to the needs of new arrivals.
Standard shelters will be built for vulnerable IDPs in
coordination with beneficiaries, Government partners
and NGOs through a “Food for Work” project or with
cash, as appropriate. UNHCR will also advocate with
the Government to find a solution for a small number of
Training and workshops will be organized for local
authorities and NGO staff to raise awareness on IDPs’
and returnees’ rights and the responsibilities of all
stakeholders.
Activities and key targets
Community services: Activities to build the leadership
capacity in IDP communities, especially targeting
women, are planned. Other community service
activities will include distribution of sanitary materials,
family planning and HIV and AIDs programs.
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Protection, monitoring and coordination: UNHCR
will lead the coordination of protection, camp
management and shelter activities, and contribute to
other sectors as needed. UNHCR will support the
Yemen Red Crescent with profiling of the IDP
population, to provide necessary information on the
population and their needs. The Office, together with
UNICEF, WHO, ICRC and Yemen Red Crescent, will
improve education and health services and help IDPs
seek replacements for lost education documents.
Domestic items and household support: Non-food
items, including mattresses, blankets, plastic sheeting,
and stoves will be distributed, based on an assessment
of needs, to vulnerable IDPs and returnees. This will be
closely coordinated with other actors in the field.
Legal assistance and protection: UNHCR will
facilitate awareness raising and training for all actors
including national, local and traditional authorities,
landowners and the affected population on the rights of
IDPs.
Shelter and other infrastructure: Tents will be
provided to newly arriving IDPs and to returnees.
Reconstruction kits and materials will also be
distributed to returnee villages to enable the population
to rebuild their houses. A work plan for camp
development and improvement will be implemented.
In collaboration with other actors, the Office will monitor
and ensure that solutions designed for IDPs are
consistent with international standards, including
voluntariness, safety and dignity. The Office will also
work to ensure that landless IDPs are enrolled in
income-generating programs, or receive land from the
government.
Transport and logistic: Transportation and
warehousing of non-food items will ensure timely
distribution. A generator will be provided to one of the
IDPs camps.
Additionally, persons at risk of displacement will be
monitored to ensure timely assistance and protection.
Sexual and gender-based violence prevention
programs will be conducted. Legal services, especially
for women and children, will be reinforced.
Key targets
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•
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20,000 mattresses and blankets distributed to needy IDPs and returnees
1,000 stoves distributed to IDP and returnee families
8,000 sanitary kits distributed
400 shelters constructed for vulnerable returnees
400 tents and 100 reconstruction tool sets distributed
Challenges
Training and capacity building is required to better
equip national and local officials to provide protection
for displaced persons.
Due to security concerns, movement of staff in rural
areas is restricted, thus limiting access to IDPs and
returnees throughout the entire Governorate.
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Partners
Government Agencies: The Governorate of
Sa’adah
NGOs: Norwegian Refugee Council, Yemen
Red Crescent, and local NGOs
Others: UNICEF, WFP, WHO
Girl pupils at a school in Annad camp, Sa’adah. UNHCR
Total requirements (USD)
Budget 2008
Sectors
Amount in USD
Protection, monitoring and coordination
533,273
Domestic needs and household support
422,550
Community services
70,400
Income generation
80,000
Legal assistance
138,680
Operational support (to agencies)
200,000
Shelter and other infrastructure
1,002,263
Transport and logistics
86,040
Total operations
2,533,206
Support costs (7%)*
177,324
Programme support
189,914
Grand Total
2,900,444
* A seven per cent support cost is recovered from contributions against supplementary programmes to cover indirect
costs for UNHCR.
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UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES
P.O. Box 2500
1211 Geneva 2
Switzerland
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