Yemen

2012 UNHCR country operations profile - Yemen

Working environment

The context

As in other countries in the region, civil unrest has been intense in major urban areas throughout Yemen, leading to violence and conflict in and around the capital city and elsewhere. As of June 2011, public services in most parts of the country had ceased to function, as the escalating armed conflict began to claim an increasing number of civilian casualties. Displacement has continued to expand to new areas. By August 2011, some 100,000 IDPs were registered in the south, in addition to the 299,000 IDPs already in the north of country as a result of the war between the Government and the Al Houthi rebel movement.

The large mixed migration inflows into Yemen from the Horn of Africa have also continued unabated, both to and through the country, many using illegal smuggling routes. Yemen is a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and continues to adopt a generous policy with Somalis by granting them prima facie refugee status. Yemen also has a strong record of ratifying international human rights conventions. The protection needs of non-Somali refugees, however, are a cause for some concern.

The needs

The protection environment for both refugees and asylum-seekers upon arrival calls for improvement, along with an intensification of the search for durable solutions. Support is needed for registration and documentation, protection-sensitive entry procedures in border areas, and a stronger governmental administrative structure and legislative framework for refugees. The well-being of refugees needs to be improved through better livelihoods and greater focus on resettlement.

Unmet needs in nutrition, shelter, education and water supply, and better lighting in the camps are other areas of concern. Additional requirements include greater awareness of sexual and gender-based violence and HIV and AIDS, improved sanitation, hygiene and health care and support for people with specific needs. With the ongoing civil unrest, many refugees in Sana'a and other urban areas face greater risks of violation of their human rights, and the most vulnerable need support with subsistence and shelter. The identification of stateless people is another area calling for improvement.

Main objectives and targets for 2012

Favourable protection environment

Laws and policies are consistent with international standards.

• Some 50 per cent of Government regulations are in keeping with international standards.

Fair protection processes and documentation

Reception conditions are improved.

• Three reception centres are maintained.
• One transit centre is established and maintained.
• Some 30,000 people of concern are received and accommodated.

The quality of registration and profiling is improved or strengthened.

• All people of concern are registered on an individual basis.
• All children under 12 months of age are issued birth certificates by the authorities.

Security from violence and exploitation

The risk of sexual and gender-based violence is reduced and the quality of the response is improved.

• All known survivors of sexual violence receive support.

The protection of children is strengthened.

• Some 80 per cent of unaccompanied or separated children benefit from Best Interest Determination (BID) procedures.

Basic needs and essential services

The health status of the population is improved.

• The under-five mortality rate is reduced from 2/1,000 to 1/1,000.

The nutritional well-being of the population of concern is improved.

• The prevalence of global acute malnutrition among children aged six to 59 months is reduced from 20 per cent to 15 per cent.

The population has optimal access to education.

• Some 80 per cent of children of concern aged six to 11 are enrolled in primary education.

Community self-reliance

Self-reliance and livelihoods are improved.

• Some 1,500 refugees receive help to start income-generating activities.
• Around 2,000 refugees receive technical and vocational-skills training.

Durable solutions

The potential for resettlement is realized.

• Some 1,500 cases are submitted for resettlement.

MAIN OBJECTIVES AND TARGETS FOR INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE

Shelter and infrastructure are established, improved and maintained

Emergency shelter is provided.

• Some 8,000 emergency shelters (tents, plastic sheeting) are provided.

Transitional shelter is provided.

• Some 3,000 transitional shelters (mud houses) are provided.

The population has sufficient supplies of basic and domestic items

Individual/ family support is provided.

• Around 15,000 individuals/ families receive support.

The quality of registration and profiling is improved or maintained

Eligible cases are identified and registered.

• Some 32,200 eligible cases are registered.

Registration is conducted on an individual basis.

• Around 390,000 people are registered individually, disaggregated by age and gender.

The level of individual documentation is increased

The issuance of identification and travel documents to people of concern is supported.

• Some 4,000 identity documents are issued to people of concern.

A comprehensive solutions strategy is developed, strengthened or updated

The strategy is developed or implemented.

• All relevant stakeholders agree to the comprehensive solutions strategy.

Strategy and activities in 2012

For refugees, UNHCR's overall goal in Yemen in 2012-2013 is to provide and improve protection space, including asylum-seekers in mixed migration flows, pending durable solutions. Based on the decree signed by the President in 2010, the Government of Yemen has now established a Bureau of Refugees, which continues to support the documentation of refugees and asylum-seekers. This office also seeks to improve the understanding by government officials of the asylum process, in the run-up to the promulgation of a refugee law.

Care and maintenance assistance for the 15,000 camp-based refugees remains essential. Increasing their self-reliance and educational levels through vocational training and tertiary education for both camp and non-camp refuges is also crucial. Improving living conditions for refugees will require partnerships with long-term actors such as the World Bank, ILO and UNDP, and advocacy for the inclusion of protracted refugee situations in their respective agendas for 2012 and 2013.

Resettlement remains a viable option when seeking durable solutions for emergency cases as well as for refugees in a protracted situation. UNHCR has set a target of 1,500 cases to be referred in 2012.

Wth regard to IDPs, UNHCR will continue leading the Protection and Camp Coordination and Cluster Management groups and will implement the main activities in order to guarantee protection and shelter security. Since displacement is anticipated in other areas of Yemen, the various clusters have developed and updated contingency plans for emergency responses.

Documentation is key to ensuring protection within IDP operations. Activities include both profiling surveys and advocacy for the provision of birth certificates and national IDs. The profiling exercise conducted in 2010 will be updated for this purpose. Meanwhile, the shelter assistance component provides emergency shelter or rental support and non-food items. Community-based networks and community centres will continue to provide opportunities for the communities to address their concerns and rights in places of return and displacement. Special attention will be given to the most vulnerable, such as the elderly and disabled, for whom reintegration and self-reliance will be more difficult. Conflict-resolution mechanisms will be expanded through implementation of quick-impact projects.

Once the political and security situation has improved, UNHCR and the Humanitarian Country Team will begin to advocate for the durable solutions framework under the IDPs National Strategy, still to be endorsed by the Government of Yemen.

Constraints

The lack of security, economic and social constraints, growing poverty and unemployment present additional challenges in ensuring protection for people of concern to UNHCR's mandate. The rising cost of living in Yemen is likely to drive more refugees and IDPs into poverty, increasing their protection risks. In IDPsituations, access to people of concern and security constitute the most serious constraints. Moreover, IDPs are mainly scattered among the host communities, For refugees, the delay in the process of drafting refugee legislation is a further constraint on their protection.

Organization and implementation

UN agencies, donors and international and national NGOs will continue to strive for effective partnerships and coordination with the Government of Yemen to support refugees and IDPs. UNHCR will sign implementation agreements with selected international and national NGOs and continue to strengthen their capacities, while coordinating with operational partners. Partners will be included in multi-functional team planning exercises, including participatory assessments with people of concern. Implementing partner capacity will be enhanced through training in programme management, supply and logistics, the code of conduct, health information systems and the new implementation process.

UNHCR is member of the UN Country Team, UN Core Group, and UN Development Assistance Framework working group. It will continue to lead the protection and CCCM/NFI/Shelter clusters. There will be more coordination between the central and field levels, and capacity-building and financial support will be given to the Government unit for data management.

Coordination

UNHCR coordinates with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, under the National Committee for Refugee Affairs (NACRA), and with the Ministry of Interior/Department of Immigration for the improvement of protection and registration of refugees, while IDP matters are coordinated with the Executive Unit. UNHCR has also established an operational partnership with the ministries of Health and Education and Vocational Training through separate agreements. It has established operational arrangements with UN Agencies. The Mixed Migration Task Force is chaired jointly by IOM and UNHCR. Operational partnerships have been established with Médecins sans Frontières, ICRC and Yemeni Red Crescent Society.

Financial information

The 2012 budget is set at some USD 60 million, the same amount as that of the budget for 2011.

Source: UNHCR Global Appeal 2012-2013

UNHCR contact information