Emergency Health, Nutrition, WASH and FSL Response in 10 severely food insecure districts in Hudaydah, Amran, Sa’ada, Taiz, Ibb and Aden Governorates in Yemen through the 2019 first Standard Allocation, Parameter 1. Save the Children (SC) proposes to deliver an integrated multi-sector action to reduce severe hunger and malnutrition among highly vulnerable populations consisting of life-saving, community-based and integrated Health, Nutrition, WASH and FSL interventions in 10 districts in Hudaydah, Amran, Sa’ada, Taiz, Ibb and Aden Governorates targeting 150,263 direct beneficiaries. Women, men, girls, and boys will have improved access to quality life-saving primary healthcare, nutrition resilience and WASH activities. The project will strengthen the health systems through provision of the MISP primary health care services medical supplies and equipment. 19 Health Facilities (HFs) were identified in collaboration with the District Health Office (DHO) based on the gaps on the ground. These are Bertas Health Center (HC) Wadi Alhajeb HC Qaid HC Alhaimah Alalia HU Alshahed Malek HU Alamaqi HU Mohab HU Ashahed Zjal HU and Bait Ashabab HU in At Taiziya district as well as Alahieook HC Alshwkaira HC Aldharefa HC Alhareeb HU Alsanama HU Alghail HU Hana HU Algareef HU Haseeb HU and Shaabo HU in Al Waiziyah district . At the community and HF level, health education will be provided to enhance beneficiary’s knowledge, attitude and behaviors related to child health and reproductive health. 

Nutrition will target U5 children and PLW who are vulnerable to acute malnutrition due to their increased nutrition needs, focusing on treatment of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) among children 6-59 months and Pregnant and Lactating Women (PLW) promotion of optimal Infant and young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices for children 0-23 months and capacity building of health workers on treatment of acute malnutrition and IYCF counseling. Nutrition messaging and screening for acute malnutrition (active case finding) among children 6-59 months and PLW will be conducted at community level by community health workers. Nutrition supplies for SAM will be obtained from UNICEF through GHO and MAM supplies will be obtained from WFP through the existing Agreements.

The drivers of food insecurity and malnutrition are multi-faceted and the humanitarian response has to be integrated with livelihoods restoration to revitalize livelihoods and support basic services in these districts. This Action’s FSL component will address the need to provide emergency food assistance to 14,340 individuals (7,319F 7,031M), identified through Food Security and Livelihood (FSL) targeting criteria, from conflict affected, severe food insecure HHs in Dar Sad and Al Hawak districts, through cash/vouchers transfers worth $80/HH/ month for 6-month period. This is because typically, the nutritional needs of PLWs and U5 children are very high, and meeting their developmental and health depends on access to nutritional foodstuff. 

In order to reduce famine risk, malnutrition and prevent diseases outbreak, and based on community consultations, SC knowledge of the project areas and past experiences in districts, areas with high SAM were selected for water supply systems rehabilitation and regular water quality surveillance, giving due consideration to special needs groups in 5 of the districts in Hodeydah, Taiz, Amran and Sa’ada. Prioritization of sites within the HFs catchment areas was done in collaboration with General Authority for Rural Water Supply projects (GARWSP) and through discussions with the WASH cluster forums at the sub national level. 17 Water Management Committees (WMCs) will be formed and trained in partnership with local authorities to enhance sustainability and empower local management. 100 HHs in At Ta’iziyah will be provided with emergency water trucking services as a short term intervention in the long term, water points in the project catchment areas will be rehabilitated. HHs latrines construction will be partially implemented through cash for work targeting most vulnerable high SAM HHs and hygiene kits be provided.