Yemen Joint Response 3 More than 19 months of conflict have devastated Yemen and an estimated 18.8 million people are in need of some kind of humanitarian assistance, including 10.3 million who are in acute need. About 14.4 million people need support to ensure access to safe drinking water and sanitation, including 8.2 million people who are in acute need (HNO – 2017). Access to safe drinking water is a major priority for IDPs and the host communities and largescale and prolonged displacements put an additional burden on already scarce water sources. High prices, distance to water sources, and quality of water are mentioned by IDPs and host communities as the major constraints to access water. Critical WASH infrastructure has been damaged in the conflict and reliable access to water and sanitation has dropped precipitously. Across the country water networks have reduced services or stopped functioning and local authorities are no longer able to maintain or rehabilitate the WASH infrastructure. Failing urban water and sanitation systems are contributing to a public health crisis, not only posing an immediate threat to lives but also significantly increasing the risk of WASH-related diseases like diarrhoea, acute respiratory infections, and malnutrition. The escalating conflict and displacement is also associated with greater risks and incidence of gender-based violence. As of October 2016 nearly 2.2 million people remained displaced within Yemen and more than 50% of IDPs are sheltering in Hajjah, Taizz, and Sana’a. With 1.6 million people (46% of the population) in acute need, Hajjah is among the districts with the highest severity of needs score and is one of the top WASH Cluster priorities (HNO-2017). In view of the huge WASH needs in Yemen and especially in Hajjah and considering Save the Children’s (SC) WASH expertise and presence in Hajjah, the proposed intervention will contribute to a reduction of water related morbidity and mortality of the affected children and their families. The project aims to reach 56,000 persons through its water (17,150 persons), sanitation (21,000 persons) and hygiene promotion activities (56,000 persons) with the objective to contribute to a reduction of water related morbidity and mortality of the affected children and their families; and to improve WASH facilities of schools and health facilities. The programma was allocated additional funding in May 2017 to improve immediate household availability of and access to food for the most vulnerable people in Yemen. This is done through five rounds of Monthly unconditional cash transfer over 7 months duration. Every 9100 beneficiary HHs will receive USD97 per month. Vulnerable groups: Even before the current crisis, women and girls in Yemen faced entrenched gender inequalities that limited access to services, livelihoods and other opportunities. Females and children face additional protection challenges as they are tasked to provide water for their families in a difficult environment, potentially relying on negative coping strategies that leave them susceptible to exploitation and abuse. Females, especially in spontaneous settlements, are facing greater risks due to due to longer distances needed to travel to fetch water and the lack of separated toilets with locks. Beneficiary selection: As vulnerable groups with specific needs are particularly affected by the crisis, WASH NFI-distributions will prioritise female- and child-headed households, which are selected in consultation with the local government council and water authority, following best practices identified during YJR2. For the water points, beneficiaries are the IDPs and host communities in the catchment area, averaging 300 HHs per water point. HHs outside of the catchment areas are selected to receive ceramic water filters. Schools and health facilities are targeted based on discussions with local government departments.