A Yemini woman carries water. © CARE/Karina CoatesIn January 2011, sparked by uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, thousands of Yemenis took to the streets in Sana'a, the capital, and other cities, to protest against a controversial constitutional amendment. The amendment allowed President Ali Abdullah Saleh to run for another term (continuing his rule since 1978).
Since that time civil unrest has continued, resulting in clashes between protestors, the government and various armed groups. This violence has displaced tens of thousands of people from their homes and resulted in many deaths and injuries. As of early June it is estimated that 283 people have been killed, 3,617 injured and over 45,000 displaced.
Recent fighting in Sana’a has displaced an estimated 2,000 people and caused heavy damage in two neighborhoods. A cease fire was negotiated in the city in early June.
Violence was largely confined to discrete areas of the city, but tensions remain in Sana’a, as well as debilitating national petrol and diesel shortages, electricity outages and rising food prices.
The World Food Programme (WFP) estimates that since January 2011 basic food and commodity prices have increased on average by 26 percent – with an additional seven percent on top of that in rural areas where the vast majority of Yemeni people live.
Since late May, conflict between the central government and militant groups in Abyan has displaced tens of thousands of civilians, according to the UN, dramatically increasing humanitarian needs.
Yemen is one of the poorest countries in the world and has one of the highest rates of malnutrition. Nearly half of the population lives on less than two dollars a day.
Those particularly vulnerable include over 300,000 people displaced by a series of conflicts between the government and militants in Sa’adah in the north of the country and nearly 200,000 refugees, primarily from Somalia.
This grave situation may further deteriorate and is likely to continue if response efforts and international support is not significantly escalated.
In the face of recent violence in this transitional time, the commitment of many Yemenis to non-violence and peaceful change provides a beacon for successful long-term development and humanitarian efforts. This circumstance calls for greater response from national and international organisations, as well as increased financial support towards positive social change.
Within this complex context, CARE continues to operate, and continually monitors the security situation and humanitarian needs. Most projects continue, but with increased security measures and operational adjustments to ensure staff safety and quality of delivery.
The CARE Yemen team of 64 Yemeni and eight international staff (some working remotely from outside Yemen) plans to expand significantly, to deliver much needed humanitarian assistance. This includes continued work with refugees, internally displaced people and others. It aims to assist with food, water, sanitation and livelihoods. CARE is currently supporting the coordination of response efforts in Aden by the UN through a short-term secondment of two staff.
CARE has been operating in Yemen since 1992 and currently has four sub-offices in the country and its headquarters in the capital. CARE’s commitment to humanitarian principles ensures that despite political, economic and operational challenges we continue to serve beneficiaries and are monitoring and planning to respond to increasing humanitarian needs in the country.
