Country Profile

PREPARED BY:
Aziz ali Nasser
Director for Floating Unit Red Sea Sector
Yemen Coast Guard(ADRC VISITING RESEARCHER: JAN. – JUNE 2010 TERM)CONTENT
1. General information about Yemen
2. Natural Hazards in Yemen
1) Disaster Profiles of Yemen
2) Natural Disasters in Yemen

3. Disaster Management System in Yemen
1) Legal frame2) Organizations
3) Annual budget for disaster risk reduction

4. Progress of the implementation of Hyogo framework
5. ADRC Counterpart Organization

1. General Information about Yemen

Location:
Geographic
coordinates:
Area:

Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Red Sea,
between Oman and Saudi Arabia
15 00 N, 48 00 E

total: 527,970 sq km
land: 527,970 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Note: includes Perim, Socotra, the former Yemen Arab Republic (YAR
or North Yemen), and the former People's Democratic Republic of
Yemen (PDRY or South Yemen)Land boundaries:
total: 1,746 km
border countries: Oman 288 km, Saudi Arabia 1,458 km
Coastline:
2400kmMaritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:mostly desert; hot and humid along west coast; temperate in western
mountains affected by seasonal monsoon; extraordinarily hot, dry,harsh desert in east
Terrain:narrow coastal plain backed by flat-topped hills and rugged mountains;dissected upland desert plains in center slope into the desert interior of
the Arabian Peninsula
Elevation
lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
extremes:
highest point: Jabal an Nabi Shu'ayb 3,760 m
Natural resources: petroleum, fish, rock salt, marble, small deposits of coal, gold, lead,nickel, and copper, fertile soil in west
Land use:
arable land: 2.78%/ permanent crops: 0.24%/ other: 96.98% (2001)
Environment- very limited natural fresh water resources; inadequate supplies ofcurrent issues:
potable water; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Environment- party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
international
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
agreements:
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategic location on Babel Mandeb, the strait linking the Red Sea andthe Gulf of Aden, one of world's most active shipping lanes
Population:
20,727,063 (July 2005 est.)
Population growth 3.45% (2005 est.)
rate:
Religions:MuslimLanguages:
ArabicCountry name:conventional long form: Republic of Yemen
conventional short form: YemenGovernment type:
Capital:Administrative
divisions:
Independence:local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Yamaniyah
local short form: Al Yamani
former: Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sana'a) or North Yemen] andPeople's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South
Yemen]
republic
Sana'aYemen coffee tree
Sana’a19 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah)
22 May 1990 (Republic of Yemen established with the merger of the
Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sana’a) or North Yemen] and the
Marxist-dominated People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen(Aden) or South Yemen]); note - previously North Yemen had become
independent in November of 1918 (from the Ottoman Empire) andSouth Yemen had become independent on 30 November1967 (fromthe UK)

History:
The history of Yemen dates back to the Minoan (1200–650 B.C.) and Sabaean (750–115
B.C.) kingdoms. Ancient Yemen (centered around the port of Aden) engaged in the lucrative
myrrh and frankincense trade. It was invaded by the Romans (1st century A.D.) as well as
the Ethiopians and Persians (6th century A.D.). In A.D. 628 it converted to Islam and in the10th century came under the control of the Rassite dynasty of the Zaidi sect, which remained
involved in North Yemeni politics until 1962. The Ottoman Turks nominally occupied the areafrom 1538 to the decline of their empire in 1918.
The northern portion of Yemen was ruled by imams until a pro-Egyptian military coup took
place in 1962. The junta proclaimed the Yemen Arab Republic, and after a civil war in which
Egypt's Nasser and the USSR supported the revolutionaries and King Saud of Saudi Arabia
and King Hussein of Jordan supported the royalists, the royalists were finally defeated in
mid-1969. The southern port of Aden, strategically located at the opening of the Red Sea,
was colonized by Britain in 1839, and by 1937, with an expansion of its territory, it was
known as the Aden Protectorate. In the 1960s the Nationalist Liberation Front (NLF) fought
against British rule, which led to the establishment of the People's Republic of Southern
Yemen on Nov. 30, 1967. In 1979, under strong Soviet influence, the country became theonly Marxist state in the Arab world. The Republic of Yemen was established on May 22,
1990, when pro-Western Yemen and the Marxist .Yemen Arab Republic merged after 300
years.

2. Natural Hazards in Yemen
1) Disaster Profiles of Yemen
During the history, Yemen has struck by many disasters. Some of them we had information
about, while the others we didn’t have enough information about.
The disasters frequently occurred in Yemen are:1) Flood, 2) Earthquake, 3) Landslide, 4) Epidemic, 5) Drought, and 6) Volcano
Also there are the other causes of disasters like famine and social conflict.
NATURAL DISASTER 1973‐2008
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0

Three main factors that exacerbate Yemen’s vulnerability to natural disasters
Climate change is expected to increase exposure to drought and flash floods, leading to atrend: While there is no international consensus on the impact of climate change on
precipitation levels in Yemen, Global Climate Models (GCM) predict a three to four degree
centigrade increase in mean temperatures by the 21st century. Climate change induced
impacts may include a rise in sea levels, and increased exposure to droughts and flash
floods in the country.
Depletion of water resources: The availability of water in Yemen stands at 150 cubic meters
per capita, and is well below the threshold of 1000 cubic meters per capita established by
the United Nations for classifying countries as water scarce countries. In fact, the availabilityof water in Yemen is much lower than the average figure for the Middle East and North
Africa Region, which is about 1250 cubic meter per capita. This limited availability of water isfurther exacerbated by three factors:(1) Seasonal and temporal changes in the pattern of rainfall that Yemen receives;(2) Both expansion of the area under cultivation as well as water intensive agricultural
production;(3) Higher ground water extraction and reduced ground aquifer recharge as a result of
increased urbanization which in turn has resulted in an expansion in built-up areas. The
depletion of water resources is increasing aridity, which could lead to reduced economic
prospects in the future, thereby making Yemen more vulnerable to natural disasters.

NAUTURAL DISASTER WHICH Struck YEMEN DURING1973_2008
Type of disaster

date

Disasters casualties

Affected number

Flood

August 1973

60

2862

August_1975

52

50000

MARCH_1982

482

350000APRIL_1989

38

150000December_1991

_

30000

FEBRUARY_1993

31

21500

JUNE_1996

338

238310August_1999

_

19750

July_2001

31_

April_2002

2

700

August_2002

28_

April_2005

10

715

23 October 2OO8

183

3275

September_2000

32

298

February_2005_

179

Jun2001

13

December_1982

2800

Epidemic
StormsEarthquake

November_1991

70

Volcano2005

11

Drought

1961

Land slid

December_2005

41050
4039

3
202000065

112) Natural disasters in Yemen(1) FLOOD

Floods are the major natural disaster in Yemen
Loss of human life has been the greatest from floods and the economic damage from the2008 flood was very sever and. Floods occur almost every year in Yemen. Major floods
reported in 1991, 1993, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2006, and 2008.
The 2008 flood affected two governorates in Yemen, which received 90 mm of rainfall in
30hours, almost eighteen times greater than the normal rainfall of 5mm to 6mm. The rain fellover a catchment area of 2million hectares, and the nearly 2 billion cubic meters of water
caused severe flash floods in the valley, with water surges Exceeding 10 meters in somearea.
The last flood was caused by a level-three tropical storm that affected the two eastern
Governorates of Al-Mahara and Hadramout 3. 183 people were killed, over 25,000 people
were displaced, and about half the population in these Governorates lost their livelihood.
Consequently, the poverty rate in these two Governorates is expected to increase. The
overall damage and loss assessment from this flood was estimated to be about US $1,638
million, or about 2.8% of Yemen’s GDP4

RELIFE IN HADRAMOT(2) Earthquake
The violent earthquake which struck Yemen on December 13th 1982 far 60 miles south of
the Sana’a city caused more than 2800 death and more than and houses damage theearthquake was shallow 5kw meter depth.

1982 December Earthquake Location: Yemen: Dhamar Date and Time: 12/13/1982 at Midnight, 13 minutes
 Focal Depth: 5 km
 Latitude: 14.701
 Longitude: 44.379
 Magnitude: 6
 MMI Int: 8
 Deaths (Approx. Deaths): 2800
 Injured: 1,500
 Homeless: 700,000(Reference: USGS http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqarchives/significant/sig_1982.php)

1991 November Earthquake Location: Yemen Date and Time: November 22
 Latitude: 13.887
 Longitude: 44.068
 Magnitude: 4.7
 Deaths (Approx. Deaths): 10
 Injured: 39
 Destroyed Houses: 17 houses

(3) Landslide
The following figure shows the landslide risk in Yemen.

On the night between 28 and 29 December, 2005, a devastating mountain landslide
occurred in al-Dhafir village, Bani Matar District, Sana’a Governorate. The village is situatedon a rocky slope about 40 kilometers west of the capital city of Sana’a with a population ofsome 270 people. It was about 9:00 p.m. when 27 out of the village's 31 houses weredestroyed and buried under huge piles of rocks. As of Tuesday 3 January 2006, Yemeni
rescue workers have recovered the bodies of 65 villagers killed in that landslide,

Location: far About 50km (31 miles) west of the capital Sana'a
Date and Time: -12-2005 at Midnight, 13 minutes
Deaths (Approx. Deaths65 people are dead): (More than 10ingured)(4) Drought

droughet

Yemen is set to be the first country in the world to run out of water, providing a taste of theconflict and mass movement of populations that may spread across the world if population
growth outstrips natural resources. Government and experts agree that the capital, Sana’a,
has about ten years at current rates before its wells run dry but the city of two million
continues to grow as people are forced to leave other areas because of water shortages
Drought has caused the displacement of thousands of people s from mountainous villages
in 2009, the first time in Yemen; the Investment Authority in Yemen has called on the private
sector to compete for projects to desalinate seawater in order to face the current issue ofwater scarcity in Yemen as well as the future fear of drought

(5) Volcano
Yemen is located in one of the most active plate boundaries of the World - the triple junction
made up by the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea and the Eastern African Rift System.

Jabal al-Tair Island (Jebel Teir, Jabal al-Tayr, Tair Island, Al-Tair Island, Jazirat at-Tair;
Arabic: ‫ ﺟﺰﻳﺮة ﺟﺒﻞ اﻟﻄﻴﺮ‬Jazīrat Jabal aṭ-Ṭayr, literally, "Bird Mountain Island") is a roughly oval
volcanic island northwest of the constricted Bab al-Mandab passage at the mouth of the Red
Sea, about half way between Yemen and Eritrea. Since 1996, Yemen has maintained two
watchtowers and a small military base on the island.
After 124 years of dormancy, the volcano that created the island erupted on 30 September
2007Elevation

Location

Name

Last eruption
meters feet

Coordinates

Bir Borhut‐‐

15°33’N 50°38’E / 15.55°N 50.63°E

905

Hanish422

1304

13°43’N 42°44’E / 13.72°N 42.73°E

Holocene

Harra es‐Sawad

1737

5699

13°35’N 46°07’E / 13.58°N 46.12°E

1253

Harra of Arhab

3100 10,170

15°38’N 44°05’E / 15.63°N 44.08°E

500

Harra of Bal Haf

233

764

14°03’N 48°20’E / 14.05°N 48.33°E

Holocene

Harras of Dhamar

3500 11,483

14°34’N 44°40’E / 14.57°N 44.67°E

1937

Jabal el‐Marha

2650

8694

15°17’N 44°13’E / 15.28°N 44.22°E

Holocene

Jabal Hamman Demt

1500

4921

14°03’N 44°45’E / 14.05°N 44.75°E‐

Jabal Haylan

1550

5085

15°26’N 44°47’E / 15.43°N 44.78°E

1200 BC

Jebel Tair

244

801

15°42’00’‘N 41°44’31’‘E / 15.70°N 41.742°E

1332

Jebel at Tair

244

801

15°33’N 41°49’E / 15.55°N 41.82°E

2007

Jebel Zubair

191

627

15°03’N 42°11’E / 15.05°N 42.18°E

1824

Zukur

624

2047

14°01’N 42°45’E / 14.02°N 42.75°E

Holocene

LIST FOR ERUPTION VOLCANO IN YEMEN

(6) Tsunami
The 26 December tsunami wave and subsequent sea surges hit the coast of Yemen
between 11.40 a.m. and 8.30 pm., causing damage to Yemen’s mainland and associatedislands facing the Indian Ocean. Local observations indicate that water started to rise atabout 11:00 a.m. local time on 26 December2004. The water level receded in somelocations (such as Muhaifif in Al Mahra), exposing about two kilometers of the sub-tidal flats
before flood Relative to the countries of southeast Asia, damage in Yemen was much less,mainly because of its distance from the epicenter of the earthquake, and the protection it
receives from the Indian Peninsula and Horner Africa. Nevertheless, the impacts on the
livelihoods of local people, especially fishermen, were significant, as many of them lost theirmain form of income. The two main areas identified as the most affected include Socotra
Island and the coastline of Al Mahra Governorate, especially the area extending from Saihut
to Wadi.

Losses by Tsunami in Al Mahrah Socotra
1-7-injurd
2-Fishing boats 33 (totally destroyed) 16 boats
Other equipment
3-Outboard engines 33 (totally destroyed) 36 engines
4-Fisheries Cooperative storage area
5-Vehicles 5 cars, motorcycles
6-Other buildings Masjid, gas station

3. Disaster Management System in Yemen
1) Legal frame
After the many flood disasters in the last decades, the latest having taken place in 1996, theissue of strengthening and establishing disaster management policy and entity received
greater attention from the Government. In this direction, the Government took many
significant steps such as follows:• Decree No. (24) on Civil Defense law (CD) on April 1997, supportive of effective disastermanagement. Articles under this decree outline Civil Defense procedures and theComposition of the Supreme Council of Civil Defense (SCCD), the temporary powers of the
Civil Defense are also outlined in the Decree.
• Decree No (201) in 1997 issued the Civil Defense By law In 1998 the Republican Decree
No. (7) 1998 was issued regarding the function of Civil Defense Councils in the governorates
and districts• In 1997 the Council of Ministers issued decree No. (52) to form a committee to prepare toapproach for Disaster Management.
• The Minister of Planning and Development issued Decree No (123) on 7 October 1997 toform a committee to prepare a proposal to establish an institute for managing natural
disasters.
The Minister of Water and Environment No (28) issued a decree in the year 2003 toestablish an Environmental Emergency Unit to initiate and coordinate the implementation of
institutional capacities to face all aspects of Environmental Emergencies and Disasters
In addition to the above mentioned decrees, there are a few other laws such as theEnvironmental Protection law, Water law, Civil Defense law but to implement these laws theGovernment needs to pay attention in establishing a national policy addressed only todisaster risk reduction.
• The water law no. (33) For Year 2002 allocate Chapters 6 and 7 for water pollution
prevention and floods risk reduction.

2) Organizations

Organisational Chart
The president republic of Yem en

Hig h est council civilI d efence

Dep artmen t p ublic civil d efenseI
u.n ,in tern ational o rganization
An d lo cal

u.N agency
international organization
And local

min istry coordinators

Governm ent governor
Civil defences branch
operation room
Operation room

The Civil Defense Council (CDC) consists of the following governmental agencies:• Ministry of Interiors, Supreme Council for Civil Defense (SCCD);• Ministry of Public Health and Population (MHP)• Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation;• Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE)• Ministry of Information (MI)• Ministry of Telecommunication and Information Technology (MTI).
• Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation (MPIC)• Ministry of Local Administration (MLA).
• Ministry of Education (ME).
• Ministry of Justice (MJ).
• Ministry of Defenses (MD)• General Authority for Survey and Land Registration (GASLR);• Civil Defense Councils (CDC) /Committees at the Governorate level

The functions of the Civil Defense Council
Have been obtained from the Civil Defense decree as follows: Use all financial and material available resources in the country during wars andNatural Disasters.
 Manage the Disasters response implementations procedures during the Emergency
disasters.
 Monitor and control food, water, and power supply sources during war status andnatural Disasters.
 Formulate and implement technical and professional groups to deal with disasters at
the time of happening Indicate all procedures of civil defense
 Review responsibilities and tasks for every member of Civil Defense Council following
the current political changes and needs In case of emergencies, the civil defense

council is to indicate the procedure, which should be followed by the commercial,educational, industrial, and real estate institutions.
Assign the annual budgets to implement the plans civil defense departments in thecapital and the branches

NDMU: National Disaster Management Unit
CAMA: Civil Aviation & Meteorological Agency
NWRA: National Water Resources Authority

3) Annual budget for disaster risk reduction
This budget aims to respond to the national emergencies disasters only. The Prime ministergave order tall governmental agencies to allocate 1% of their annual budget for emergency
situations. This budget will be under the order of the CDC.
In case of significantly important disasters, a high committee is to be formed from the
President office and the Civil Defense Council in close cooperation with linked ministries togenerate and manage the financing budgets.

4. Progress of the implementation of theHfA

Strategic goals 1
Area 1
The more effective integration of disaster risk considerations into sustainable development
policies, planning and programming at all levels, with a special emphasis on disasterprevention, mitigation, preparedness and vulnerability reduction.
Strategic Goal Statement:
Despite the weakness of the DRR concept ,Yemen has started to apply defiant polices that
aimed to integrate the risk reduction practices into the development activities. Environmental
Impact Assessment procedures of the development projects, Safety Standards , place safety
and Labor Health regulations and other related principles are being institutionalized andapplied as a component of the National development strategies.
Yemeni local authorities are increasingly embarking on formulating through public-private
stakeholder participation of City Development Strategies (CDS) for economic growth,
poverty alleviation and service delivery.

Area 2The development and strengthening of institutions, mechanisms and capacities at all levels,in particular at the community level, that can systematically contribute to building resilienceto hazards.
Strategic Goal Statement:
In 2008, Yemen has started developing a sound Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery
system using the funds made available by GFDRR/WB. The key components of this project
are ; to 1.Strengthening the National System for Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery.
Main activities under this component will include: National Disaster Risk Reduction &Recovery Strategy, including building political support across relevant central-government
agencies, Institutional Strengthening and Legal framework,
Management information System (including basic necessary equipment and staff training)andAwareness Building and Education.
2. Developing Viable Models to Mainstream Disaster Risk Reduction into Local Development.
Pilot activities to demonstrate integration of Disaster Risk Reduction into Local Development
and to strengthen/create both horizontal and vertical links between central government
agencies and local governments on issues of DRR. Based on a region-wide GFDRR Call for
proposals launched on September 5, 2007, three pilot activities have been selected to bepart of this component. They are as follows:(a) Hazard Risk Management Institutional Mainstreaming Strategy and Priority Intervention
Areas in Sana’a;(2) Integrating Hazard Preparedness in the Yemen Social Fund; and(3) Integration of hazard Management into the Public Works Program.
The MWE through the cooperation with GFDRR and IFRC has signed a Moue with the
Yemen Red Crescent Society for implementing a project aimed develop and pilot a
community-based disaster risk reduction program working with communities whose
vulnerabilities are already identified through vulnerability-capacity assessments (VCAs) andthe governmental references.

Area 3The systematic incorporation of risk reduction approaches into the design andimplementation of
Emergency preparedness, response and recovery programmers in the reconstruction ofaffected communities.
Strategic Goal Statement:

2006,The Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE) with the National Team (Platform) ofEnvironmental Emergencies and Disaster Risk reduction (NTEDR) has developed a Nation
Environmental Contingency
Plan and Rapid Environmental Assessment in Disaster Guidelines.
The Ministry of Interior through Support from UNDP developed a draft of the national
DisasterManagement Plan.2008, National Maritime Oil Spell Contingency plan has been declared by
the Cabinet. In 2003; The Ministry of Interior with support from UNDP, Yemen office , hasestablished a Disaster Management Unit (DMA) to coordinate the disaster response agenda .
A draft of National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) has been developed in 2005.

Priority for action 1
Ensure that disaster risk reduction is a national and a local priority with a strong institutional
basis for implementation.

Core indicator 1
National policy and legal framework for disaster risk reduction exists with decentralized
responsibilities and capacities at all levels.
Level of Progress achieved:
2: Some progress, but without systematic policy and/ or institutional commitment
Description:
In the last decades; the Government of Yemen as one of LCD countries, was focusing onlyin the infrastructure and other development activities . The MWE established the General
Directorate of Environmental Emergencies (DGEE) as the 1st governmental institution
specified to act on risk reduction aspects such as natural and man-made risks identification ,mapping early warning system and so on(please sea the legal documents on
www.mweye..Org).
2004, MWE started to introduce the concepts of risk reduction through multi-stakeholders
approach establish the NTEDR as the 1st national platform act on DRR aspects.
Now the development of DRR national strategy and legal framework has been recognized by
the government as one of the national priority.
The Government with support from GFDRR has started the primary steps of some key
activities to develop a national strategy and enhance the legal framework of DRR in Yemen
at the National level. In he same direction other Moue has been signed between GDEE
/MWE and Yemeni Red Crescent Society (YRCS) to launch a DRR capacity building
program at the community level that will be supported by GFDRR mechanism.
Context & Constraints:
The limited resources, the lacking of public and official awareness, lacking of expertise &knowledge, lacking of the risk information, weakness of the coordination mechanism and thelimited capacity of DEE are the main impediment face the government. Additional thementioned obstacles, some international organizations create such disturbing problems
between the local agencies through encouraging and feeding the clashes between local
governmental agencies. Most of the clashes come either because of .conceptual
misunderstanding, mixing between the wide concepts of DRR and disaster response and/or
the absence of the clear institutional framework. To enhance the existing efforts of the
MWE ,It is strongly recommended to;
1. Enhance the exiting programs on DRR by providing more resources
2. Strengthen the information and knowledge sharing,
3. Gave a clear identification and differentiations mandates between the concept of Disaster
Reduction and Disaster Response, 4. And to develop clear coordination mechanisms ,guidelines and rules in terms of RR between the UN organizations neither the internationalor their local branches where they sometimes playing oboist rules to DRR efforts by
duplicating the same programs and creating a conflicts between the local governmental
agencies.

Core indicator 2
Dedicated and adequate resources are available to implement disaster risk reduction plans
and activities at all administrative levels
Level of Progress achieved:
3: Institutional commitment attained, but achievements are neither comprehensive nor
substantial
Description:
Through support from the GFDRR up 1 million US$ project allocated to enhancemainstreaming
Disaster and climate change risk reduction at the national level (National platform, national
strategy and legal framework , that being implementing by GDEE/ MWE under GFDRR/WB
supervision . Also up to
1.5 million US$ now in the pipe (may be allocated next year) to mainstreaming community
based management for disaster risk reduction which will be implemented by GDEE/MWE
and Yemeni Red crescent Society with coordination and support from GFDRR/ WB andIFRC.
So, the Government of Yemen has recognized the this support and started the several stepthat present the government commitment such establishment of Disaster and Climate
Change Risk Reduction Unit(DCRU) within MWE and planning to allocate local fund up to
500000 US$ for DCRU in the ministry of finance as local contribution to cover running cost of
DCRU and other DRR activities for the next 3years. Hopefully after 3 years, National
Strategy and legal framework will be issued and declared.
Context & Constraints:
Several challenges and barriers emerges since the establishment of the general directorateofEnvironmental emergencies within the MWE in 2003. This was th1st governmental bodymandated formational and manmade risks reduction and prevention. This GD started to
introduce the DRR concept and it is related aspects, and establish the National Platform.
The main challenges GDEE faces can be summarized as the following : 1. Lacking to the
DRR knowledge and/with misunderstanding of the new concept. 2. Absent of the clear
legislations in disaster response and disaster reduction. 3. Lacking for expertise 4.
Unconscious interventions that may be done by some international organization and/ orthere offices in the country. These interventions sometimes create a coordination conflicts
between the national agencies and affect on the coordination progress. 5. Lacking to thefinancial resources. this factor is the major key challenges. Because 6. The DRR concept is
new concept in general and there isa huge gap in awareness at the official and the public levels.

Core indicator 3
Community Participation and decentralization is ensured through the delegation of authority
andResources to local levels
Level of Progress achieved:
2: Some progress, but without systematic policy and/ or institutional commitment
Description:
As mentioned previously , MWE with YRCS are planning to start some action in this regards
with support and coordination from GFDRR and IFRC. This initiative aimed to build thecapacity of the local administration and enhance the mainstreaming of D CCRR community
based management enhance the knowledge and DRR awareness.
Context & Constraints:
DRR awareness is almost missing among the public , policy makers even higher level allover the country lacking of the financial resources, appropriate educational materials andcapacity are the main constrains face the existing efforts to develop Disaster and Climate

Change Risk Reduction vision at the local level. The local administrations are willing to work
closely with the central government to address the DR agenda in their authorities but there is
no available resources to handle this issues.

Core indicator 4
A national multi sectoral platform for disaster risk reduction is functioning.
Level of Progress achieved:
3: Institutional commitment attained, but achievements are neither comprehensive nor
substantial
Description:
There are two forms of National platform deal with disaster aspects as follows:
1. In 1998, Supreme Civil Defines Council was declared by presidential decree as multistakeholders committee address the disaster response coordination and commitments.
Despite its weakness it can improved in terms of institutional arrangements and capacity
building.
2. In 2005, Notional Team for Environmental Emergencies and Disaster Risk Reduction(NTEDR) was established under supervision of the Minister of Water & Environment withguidance from UNISDR and Joint UNEP/OCHA Environmental Unit.
Context & Constraints:
The main constraints can be summarized as the following:.
1. Lacking for the financial resources for the organizational purposes.
2. Absent of such the legal framework in Disaster Reduction that identify the tasks of thedeferent agencies.
3. Lacking of the DCCRR awareness among the officials rather than the public.
4. The mixing in the concept of disaster reduction and response .
5. Other cultural aspects.

Priority for action 2
Identify, assess and monitor disaster risks and enhance early warningCore indicator 1
National and local risk assessments based on hazard data and vulnerability information areavailable and include risk assessments for key sectors.
Level of Progress achieved:
1: Minor progress with few signs of forward action in plans or policy
Description:
The term of Early Warning System is not yet included in the majority of Disastermanagement legal framework system yet but several authorities are practicing the sometasks of some Early warning. These National bodies can be utilized ,if the suitable resources
secured, within an appropriate 6coordination mechanism to act as Disaster and Climate
Change National Early Warning system as follows:
1. For the geological Hazards; the National Center for Seismic and Volcanic Monitoring,under the Supervision of Ministry of Oil and Minerals.
2. For the Desert Locust attacks, the National Center for Desert Locust Fighting with the
Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation.
3. The National Center for Remote Sensing under the Ministry of Telecommunication andInformational Technology.
4. For the Climate and Meteorological Hazards, Environment Protection Authority under
MWE, the National Meteorological Center under the Ministry of Transport, the National
Water Resources Authority under MWE ,5. The National Information Center under the Presidential Office...
• The General Directorate of Environmental Emergencies within MWE is mandate to address
the issues of EWS for the Environmental (Natural and Man-made) hazards including
establishing the national Risk Maps• Presidential Decree No, 218, year 2005 about the by-law of MWE assigned theEnvironmental
Emergencies General Directorates (EEGD) mandates to direct the Emergencies andDisaster and Climate Change Risk Reduction.
Context & Constraints:
The main constrains are:• Lacking for the National Strategies and legal framework.
• lacking for the financial and technical resources.
• Lacking for knowledge.
• Lacking for the public and official awareness .
• Other aspects.

Core indicator 2
Systems are in place to monitor, archive and disseminate data on key hazards andvulnerabilities
Level of Progress achieved:
1: Minor progress with few signs of forward action in plans or policy
Description:
The Ministry of Water and Environment (EEGD) through the NTEDR (the DRR National
Platform) is committed by its mandates to develop and establish the appropriatearrangements for the NEWS, this will be achieved through the existing cooperation programwith GFDRR/WB and UNISDR.2006, A coordination Unit for Disaster and climate change
risk reduction has been established, with the WE, chaired by the DG of Environmental
Emergencies. Under the NTEDR 5 technical committees from the stakeholders (Geological,
Climate Change and Meteorological, Marine, Technical hazards and coordination) toaddress the required action on HFA and submit the outputs to the NTEDR.
Context & Constraints:
The main constrains are:• Lacking for the National Strategies and legal framework.
• lacking for the financial and technical resources.
• Lacking for knowledge.
• Lacking for the public and official awareness.
• Lacking for the required equipments, capacity and experience.
• Absent of the historical data- bases.

Core indicator 3
Early warning systems are in place for all major hazards, with outreach to communities.
Level of Progress achieved:
1: Minor progress with few signs of forward action in plans or policy
Description:
Same issues as at the national level.
Context & Constraints:• Lacking for the National Strategies and legal framework.
• lacking for the financial and technical resources.
• Lacking for knowledge.
• Lacking for the public and official awareness.
• Lacking for the required equipments, capacity and experience.
• Absent of the historical data- bases.

Core indicator 4
National and local risk assessments take account of regional / Trans boundary risks, with aview to regional cooperation on risk reduction.
Level of Progress achieved:3: Institutional commitment attained, but achievements are neither comprehensive nor
substantial
Description:
Risk assessment and mapping has been identified as a priority for Yemen to support thedevelopment of
The national strategy and legal framework for Disaster and Climate Change Risk Reduction.
The MWE (GDEE) is working through support of GFDRR/WB in developing a National Risk
Map covers the majority of hazards and risk in the country.
Context & Constraints:• lacking of the experiences and knowledge.
• lacking for the financial and technical resources...
• Lacking for the public and official awareness.
• Lacking for the required equipments, capacity and experience.
• Absent of the historical data- bases.

Priority for action 3
Use knowledge, innovation and education to build a culture of safety and resilience at alllevelsCore indicator 1
Relevant information on disasters is available and accessible at all levels, to all stakeholders(through networks, development of information sharing systems etc)
Level of Progress achieved:
1: Minor progress with few signs of forward action in plans or policy
Description:
Developing the Network and Information sharing system has a limited sources within thecomponents of
The Project (Strengthen the National system of Disaster and Climate Change Risk
Reduction andRecovery.2008-2011) which will secure the some basic needs of hazards(risk) management system.
The planned information system should include development of a National website,
information
management system which and virtual network connect all members of the national platform
agencies .the main inputs are; the outcomes of the national risk assessment and mapping,risk reduction safety standers and guidelines, the legal documents, the national strategies,
warning messages … and all relevant information. This system will be linked to the majorityof relevant national and international organizations.
Yemen has received the DRR field library from UN/ISDR in 2008. A promotion program forutilizing thisvaluable library has been designed. The main elements for this program include translationof some selected publication to Arabic language; distribute the list of the publication among
universities and research institutions with enabling the references by the EEGD.
Context & Constraints:
Main challenges in this part are:
• The available resources are very limited hence it will take sometime to start the activities.
• The language barrier where most of the publication and information in DRR are only
available in foreign languages which main the needs to a large translation process to Arabic.
• The lacking of experience and trained staff.
• The limited capacity of the governmental agencies.

Core indicator 2
School curricula, education material and relevant trainings include disaster risk reduction
and recovery concepts and practices.
Level of Progress achieved:

1: Minor progress with few signs of forward action in plans or policy
Description:• An awareness Compiegne has been designed by EEGD in Disaster and Climate Change
risk
Reduction targeting the .official and public with special consideration for the schools anduniversities.
• Several campaigned in disaster response have achieved by the Civil Defense Authority
considering their preventions safety, search and recue , disaster response procedures
targeted several schools in sauna City and few governorates.
• Several campaigns in heath rescue providers in health emergencies have been developedby the Ministry of health and Yemen Red Crescent Society.
Context & Constraints:• The available resources are very limited.
• The language barrier where most of the publication and information in DRR are only
available in foreign languages which main the needs to a large translation process to Arabic.
• The lacking of experience and trained staff .
• The limited capacity of the governmental agencies.

Core indicator 3
Research methods and tools for multi-risk assessments and cost benefit analysis aredeveloped and strengthened.
Level of Progress achieved:
1: Minor progress with few signs of forward action in plans or policy
Description:
The is an initiative between MWE and Research Associate (Disaster Vulnerability andemergency management, Asia) Northumbria UK) University , to establish a master degree
program in Yemen in cooperation with the Water and Environment Center , Sana’a
University)
Context & Constraints:
The main constraints are:• Almost the absent of the research initiations in disaster risk reduction.
• Lacking to academic expertise.
• Lacking to resourcesCore indicator 4Countrywide public awareness strategy exists to stimulate a culture of disaster resilience,with outreach to urban and rural communities.
Level of Progress achieved:
3: Institutional commitment attained, but achievements are neither comprehensive nor
substantial
Description:
The institutional commitments attained via several awareness departments that already partof the organizational chart of the following agencies with specific mandates and can beutilized in building their resilience:• Environmental Awareness Dep. Within the Environment Protection Authority specified onbuilding the public awareness related to the environmental hazards and other environmental
aspects.
• Agricultural Information Dep. within the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation specified onbuilding the public awareness related to the agriculture , flash flood and veteran hazards.
• Relations and Information Dep. Within the Ministry of Interior, specified of building the
public resilience related to the crime, traffic, terrorist, and other related hazards• The Nation Center of Health Information and Culture within the Ministry of Health andPopulation specified on building the public health culture and awareness and reducing therelated hazards.

The EEGD mandated to build the resilience on reducing the environmental (natural andmanmade) risks at the public and official levels.
An awareness campaign on Disasters and Climate Change Risk Reduction is alreadyplanned as one component of the MWE-GFDRR program that is already started this year
(2008)
Context & Constraints:
The main constraints are• The available resources are very limited.
• The language barrier where most of the publication and information in DRR are only
available in foreign Languages which main the needs to a large translation process to Arabic.
• The lacking of experience and trained staff.
• The limited capacity of the governmental agencies

Priority for action 4
Reduce the underlying risk factors

Core indicator 1
Disaster risk reduction is an integral objective of environment related policies and plans,
including forland use natural resource management and adaptation to climate change.
Level of Progress achieved:
2: Some progress, but without systematic policy and/ or institutional commitment
Description:
2007, MWE has integrated several articles related to drought and flash flood risks reduction
among the National Water Strategy through the coordination with EEGD .
More than 10 articles related to the disasters (natural and man-made hazards) and risk
reduction, has-been added in the updated draft of the Environmental law No 96, 1995.
The infrastructure development is the main priority of the government (Yemen is one of LCD)
that provides a good chance to introduce the term DRR as investment but , this need an
extensive awareness and capacity building programs for the governmental agencies andNGOs.
Context & Constraints:
The Main constraints face EEGD and NTEDR to achieve this object are:• Lacking to financial and human resources.
• Lacking to awareness at the official and public levels.
• Lacking for a clear legal framework.
• Other aspects

Core indicator 2
Social development policies and plans are being implemented to reduce the vulnerability of
populations most at risk.
Level of Progress achieved:
1: Minor progress with few signs of forward action in plans or policy
Description:
The planned National Disaster and Climate Change Risk Assessment (MWE&GFDRR/WB
project) will cover Vulnerability of the communities in the local administrations..
2007, The Yemeni Red Crescent Society (YRCS) has conducted a Community Base
Vulnerability Assessment for 5 local administrations in Yemen . This assessment focused on
the community adaptation abilities to adapt and recover during and after disaster.
Context & Constraints:
The Main constraints face EEGD and NTEDR to achieve this object are:• Lacking to enough financial and human resources.
• Lacking to awareness at the official and public levels.

• Lacking for a clear legal framework.
• The tough geographical features of the Yemeni territories.

Core indicator 3
Economic and productive sacrtorial policies and plans have been implemented to reduce thevulnerability of economic activities
Level of Progress achieved:
1: Minor progress with few signs of forward action in plans or policy
Description:
October 2008, EEGD with cooperation with GFDRR/WB is organizing a training course on
Damage and Loss Assessment for Disaster as starting point for the Capacity building at thenational level. This training will introduce a national model for damage and losses
assessment upon a comprehensive study
Was conducted earlier 2008, covers all national sectors categories.
Generally the situation in this regard is not clear yet and needs more resources and efforts tobe focus at the national and local level.
Context & Constraints:
The Main constraints face EEGD and NTEDR to achieve this object are:• Lacking to the financial resources.
• Lacking to awareness at the official and public levels.
• Lacking to the information, experience and knowledge.
• Lacking to the researches Institutes and studies.

Core indicator 4
Planning and management of human settlements incorporate disaster risk reduction
elements, including
Enforcement of building codes.
Level of Progress achieved:
3: Institutional commitment attained, but achievements are neither comprehensive nor
substantial
Description:
Risk evaluation and URBAN PLANNING MUNICIPALITY OF SANA’A STUDY , HAS BEEN
STARTED In the context of the City Development Strategy and make recommendations forthe integration of the CDS and DRM information for the Urban Master Plan, and for potential
institutional capacity building needs with regards to disaster risk management (c) prepare an
integrated storm water master plan (ISWMP) forth city of Sana’a., as a pilot project
conducted from MWE and GFDRR/WB project. This model will be replicated for the similar
cities.
MWE through NTEDR where the members from relevant agencies will assure the integrationof the DRR concepts and procedures through provide the appropriate capacity to the policy
maker at the central and local levels.
Context & Constraints:
The Main constraints face EEGD and NTEDR to achieve this object are:• Lacking to the clear regulations.
• Lacking to the financial resources.
• Lacking to awareness at the official and public levels.
• Lacking to the information , experience and knowledge.
• Lacking to the researches Institutes and studies.

Core indicator 5
Disaster risk reduction measures are integrated into post disaster recovery and rehabilitation
processes
Level of Progress achieved:3: Institutional commitment attained, but achievements are neither comprehensive nor
substantial
Description:
2006, MEW (EEGD) with NTEDR has developed a guidelines for Rapid Environmental
Assessment in Disaster that includes how to identify the post disaster needs.
2007, the Disaster Management Unit (DMU) with the Civil Defense Authority and through
UNDP support developed a draft of National Disaster Management Plan included the role of
DMU governmental members roles before , during and post disasters.
The training course on Damage and Loss Assessment for Disaster as starting point for the
Capacity building at the national level.
Context & Constraints:• Lacking to the clear regulations.
• Lacking to the financial resources.
• Lacking to awareness at the official and public levels.
• Lacking to the information, experience and knowledge.
• Lacking to the researches Institutes and studies.

Core indicator 6
Procedures are in place to assess the disaster risk impacts of major development projects,
especially infrastructure.
Level of Progress achieved:
3: Institutional commitment attained, but achievements are neither comprehensive nor
substantial
Description:
2006, MEW (EEGD) with NTEDR has developed a guidelines for Rapid Environmental
Assessment in Disaster that include how to identify the post disaster needs.
Context & Constraints:
The Main Challenges are:• Lacking to the clear regulations.
• Lacking to the financial resources.
• Lacking to awareness at the official and public levels.
• Lacking to the information, experience and knowledge.
• Lacking to the researches Institutes and studies

Priority for action 5
Strengthen disaster preparedness for effective response at all levels

Core indicator 1
Strong policy, technical and institutional capacities and mechanisms for disaster risk
management, witha disaster risk reduction perspective are in place.
Level of Progress achieved:
1: Minor progress with few signs of forward action in plans or policy
Description:
MWE (EEGD through NTEDR), has planed to start developing the National DRR Strategy
with support from GFDRR/WB and should be started earlier 2009.
Context & Constraints:
The Main constraints face EEGD and NTEDR to achieve this object are:• Lacking to enough financial and human resources.
• Lacking to awareness at the official and public levels.
• Lacking for a clear legal framework• Others.

Core indicator 2

Disaster preparedness plans and contingency plans are in place at all administrative levels,and regular training drills and rehearsals are held to test and develop disaster response
programmers.
Level of Progress achieved:
3: Institutional commitment attained, but achievements are neither comprehensive nor
substantial
Description:
2007, the Disaster Management Unit (DMU) with the Civil Defense Authority and through
UNDP support developed a draft of National Disaster Management Plan included the role of
DMU governmental members roles before, during and post disasters. The next step should
be developing the National Disaster Contingency Plan. A new project reach 1100000
US$ has been approved by UNDP to Civil Defense Authority to strengthening the National
response Capacity.
A draft of Environmental Contingency Plan was developed in 2006 by EEGD with support
from Joint UNEP-OCHA environmental Unit.
A National Contingency Plan for Marine Oil Spell was declared in April 2008, under
supervision of Maritime Affairs Authority.
Context & Constraints:
The main constraints are• Lacking to the financial resources.
• Lacking to awareness at the official and public levels.
• Lacking to the information, experience and knowledge.
• Lacking to the researches Institutes and studies• Lacking to risk and Vulnerability maps.

Core indicator 3
Financial reserves and contingency mechanisms are in place to support effective response
and recovery when required.
Level of Progress achieved:
3: Institutional commitment attained, but achievements are neither comprehensive nor
substantial
Description:
The Civil Defense low , identify 1% of the whole budget of all governmental agencies forcontingencies but there is no clear mechanism of approach hoe the relevant agencies canuse this sources. National Contingency Plan for Marine Oil Spell has put a mechanism that
distributes the cost of implementing this plan among the stakeholders.
Context & Constraints:
The main challenges are:• Lacking sufficient financial resources• Lacking to the equipments and tools.
• Lacking to the information, experience and knowledge.
• Lacking to the researches Institutes and studies• Lacking to risk and Vulnerability maps.

Core indicator 4
Procedures are in place to exchange relevant information during hazard events anddisasters, and to Undertake post-event reviews
Level of Progress achieved:
2: Some progress, but without systematic policy and/ or institutional commitment
Description:
Just the classic and ordinary procedures. Most of the procedures depended on the situation
Context & Constraints:
The main challenges are:Absents of enforced national contingency plans

Drivers of Progressa) Multi-hazard integrated approach to disaster risk reduction anddevelopment
Levels of Reliance:
No/ little reliance: no acknowledgement of the issue in policy or practice; or, there is someAcknowledgement but nothing/ little done to address it
Do studies/ reports/ atlases on multi-hazard analyses exist in the country/ for the sub
region?:No
Description (Please provide evidence of where, how and who):
The environmental low No. 96, year 1995, allocate one chapter for Environmental Impact
Assessment in
Development project. Most of this chapter focused in the ordinary environmental problems
but no mention to DRR concept.

b) Gender perspectives on risk reduction and recovery adopted andinstitutionalized
Levels of Reliance:
No/ little reliance: no acknowledgement of the issue in policy or practice; or, there is someAcknowledgement but nothing/ little done to address it
Description (Please provide evidence of where, how and who):
To reach to the integration of multi-hazards in the development activities we should consider
integration the DRR concepts in the following:
1. Update the EIA policies for the development.
2. Update the National Development Strategies.
3. Update the Nation 5 & 25 year's development plans.
4. Update the national poverty reduction strategy.
5. Update the relevant national and local plansc) Capacities for risk reduction and recovery identified and strengthened
Levels of Reliance:
Significant and ongoing reliance: significant ongoing efforts to actualize commitments withcoherent strategy in place; identified and engaged stakeholders.
Description (Please provide evidence of where, how and who):
The Ministry of Water and Environment with the guidance and support from GFDRR/WB and
UN/ISDR has put this issue as a priority through establishing the NTEDR , strengthen the
EEGD capacity and establishment of a Coordination Unit for Disaster and Climate Change
Risk Reduction, that will play the coordination role and technical secretary for NTEDR.

d) Human security and social equity approaches integrated into disaster risk
reduction and recovery activities
Levels of Reliance:
No/ little reliance: no acknowledgement of the issue in policy or practice; or, there is someAcknowledgement but nothing/ little done to address it
Description (Please provide evidence of where, how and who):
No action has been done Yet,
To include this aspect there is a need to address and prioritize the strategies .

e) Engagement and partnerships with non-governmental actors; civil society,private sector, amongst others, have been fostered at all levels
Levels of Reliance:Significant and ongoing reliance: significant ongoing efforts to actualize commitments withcoherent strategy in place; identified and engaged stakeholders.
Description (Please provide evidence of where, how and who):
Two Social societies has been a members of NTEDR ;.i.e. the Yemeni Society for
Environmental Science and Yemen Red Crescent Society . There is a plan to involve theinternational NGOs that working in the field of DRRf) Contextual Drivers of Progress
Levels of Reliance:
Significant and ongoing reliance: significant ongoing efforts to actualize commitments withcoherent strategy in place; identified and engaged stakeholders.
Description (Please provide evidence of where, how and who):
Ongoing efforts to actualize commitments with a plan to develop a coherent strategy
MWE has starting the procedure to actualize its willingness to coordinate the DRR efforts inthe country with support of the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation where thestart point will the GFDRR/WB (Strengthen the National DRR System) with the guidance of
UNISDR

Future outlook
Area 1
The more effective integration of disaster risk considerations into sustainable development
policies, planning and programming at all levels, with a special emphasis on disasterprevention, mitigation, preparedness and vulnerability reduction.
Overall Challenges:
Republic of Yemen suffers from several Natural and man-made hazards with high level of,inconstant economy and quick, unorganized developing.
The government aims to implement HFA as clear and practical guidance tool. To achievethat, because of the available limited resources, the government is seeking the suitable technicaland financial support from the International Organizations and Donors to address:
Development of the National Strategy and Legal Framework which should be in place late2010, with using the scientific approached and risk & vulnerability assessment outcomes.
Future Outlook Statement:
To strengthen the coordination mechanism and build the capacity of NTEDR ( the DRR
National
Platform) To build the public and official awareness and strengthen the Early warning
systems and mechanisms.

Area 2The development and strengthening of institutions, mechanisms and capacities at all levels,in particular at the community level, that can systematically contribute to building resilienceto hazards.
Overall Challenges:
To build the capacity of the Central government and local administrations and strengthen thevulnerable communities against natural and man-made hazards.
Future Outlook Statement:
To integrate the conceptual of disaster and climate change risk reduction in the national
strategies with special attention to gender and disaster aspects.

Area 3The systematic incorporation of risk reduction approaches into the design andimplementation ofEmergency preparedness, response and recovery programmers in the reconstruction ofaffected communities.
Overall Challenges:
To build and strengthen the disaster response and contingencies capacity with developing ofa clear tools and polices for people and environmental resources.
Future Outlook Statement:
To develop a clear and practical coordination and enforcement mechanisms for DRR
procedures and guidelines which should be developed ASAP?

5. Counterpart for ADRC
The Environmental Emergency Unit (EEU)
Ministry of Water and Environment