Prepositioning and Distribution of contingency non-food items in Hajjah and Sana'a under the Shelter Cluster Common Pipeline - Priority 2 Internal displacement remains one of the defining features of the conflict. Yemen has the fourth largest IDP population due to conflict in the world. Clashes continue to force thousands of families to seek refuge elsewhere. It is estimated that 73 per cent of the total IDP population are women and children. The majority of IDPs reside in the most impoverished urban neighborhoods in Sana’a, Aden, Al-Hudaydah and Marib, and over a million individuals are currently living across 2,300 IDP sites in makeshift shelters and unfinished buildings where the living conditions are inhumane, unsafe and overcrowded. Often with little to no access to water, waste management systems, and proper drainage, continuously exposing them to waterborne diseases and other potential harm. Moreover, half of the people living in the sites are within five kilometres from active frontlines and some 32 per cent of the sites are at risk of flooding. 

Thousands of Yemeni families currently have no access to the most basic core relief items such as mattresses, blankets, and kitchen utensils. Most displaced families had to flee their homes without the possibility to carry with them any basic items to provide comfort during displacement. Lack of such items also endangers the overall health and wellbeing of displaced populations and hinders their ability to eat, sleep and wash, exposing them to a range of health risks. In addition, the start of the rainy season added to the challenges, damaging thousands of already worn-down makeshift shelters and costing families their limited households items. Under this context, humanitarian action to save lives and alleviate the suffering of vulnerable populations across Yemen remains imperative.

As part of UNHCR’s Shelter/NFI intervention in Yemen, and in line with the Shelter/NFI Cluster Common Pipeline protocol, UNHCR  aims at prepositioning 2,500 non-food items (NFIs) in Sana’a and Hajjah as contingency stock, which will be distributed in nine governorates – Al Hudaydah, Hajjah, Sana'a, Ibb, Dhamar, Taizz, Sa'adah, Al Jawf, and  Al Baydha. The release of these stocks will follow the Shelter Cluster Common Pipeline protocol, and the release paper will be signed by the Shelter Cluster Coordinator. 

The identification of the beneficiaries is based on the needs assessments undertaken by UNHCR through its Initial Needs Assessment Tool (INAT). As of 25 July 2022, UNHCR assessed 119,228 households (717,112 individuals), out of which 71,703 were identified as in urgent need of NFIs which represents 60% of the assessed families. With the support of the YHF fund, UNHCR aims to assist 2,500 newly displaced families (some 16,738 individuals) with prepositioned NFIs, representing 3.5% of the assessed households.

The proposed project is in line with the YHF allocated Priority 2: Provision of emergency, life-saving assistance, and protection to the most acutely vulnerable IDPs, refugees, migrants, and host communities most at risk (Activity: Prepositioning and distribution of contingency non-food items /shelter cluster common pipeline).  It also matches Shelter/NFI Cluster Strategy of providing safe, appropriate shelter and essential household items to displaced and highly vulnerable families and the first line of response to provide immediate emergency supplies to newly displaced families. Moreover, it will help ensure basic services are available at under-served IDP settlements by distributing household (kits) and emergency shelter kits where appropriate. The project addressed basic household needs of newly displaced Yemeni families, ensuring a secure and healthy living environment with privacy and dignity.