nlp-thedeep/humsetbias huggingface dataset:
The average exchange rate of the Yemeni Rial  ( YER )  in Sana'a city during the week was 475 YER to the US$, which signifies an almost two per cent drop in value compared to the previous week. Basic commodities were not significantly impacted by this decrease in the YER value. In Aden, the YER was exchanging at 480 to the US$. Data collected by FEWSNET indicates that the YER has over the last two weeks lost the value it had regained after the announcement of the Saudi transfer of US$2 billion to the Yemeni Central Bank, and continues to show a high level of volatility.
Since the end of the temporary blockade on 22 November 2017 until 21 March 2018, some 77 vessels and four dhows have discharged cargo at Al Hudaydah and Saleef ports, according to WFP. These include four WFP chartered vessels carrying 69,360 MT and one carrying four mobile cranes, 35 commercial vessels carrying 892,078.9 MT of commercial food items, 35 commercial vessels carrying 405,503 MT of commercial fuel and coal, and the dhows carrying 638 MT of medical items. As of 21 March, eight other commercial vessels carrying 106,988 MT of gas oil were waiting to berth at Hudaydah, as was one vessel carrying 31,000 MT of bulk wheat. One vessel carrying 33,000 MT of bulk wheat was waiting to berth at Saleef port.
On 30 September, WHO and UNICEF launched a second oral vaccination campaign in Al Hudaydah and Ibb governorates. During the six day campaign, 3,000 local health workers vaccinated more than 306,000 people in Al Hali and Al Marawiah districts of Al Hudaydah and the Hazm Al Udayn District of Ibb. A similar campaign in August reached over 380,000 people. The campaigns are part of an integrated cholera response plan to prevent a third major wave of cholera in Yemen. Cholera is endemic to Yemen therefore outbreaks, seasonal or sporadic, are to be expected. While rapid access to treatment is essential during and outbreak to save lives, vaccines are not the solution to stop an epidemic. Cholera transmission is closely linked to inadequate access to clean water and sanitation facilities; a combination of surveillance   to rapidly detect and respond to outbreaks   promotion of access to safe drinking water, improved sanitation and hygiene practices, social mobilization and treatment are required to prevent the transmission of the disease.
In 2017, IOM helped 2,860 migrants return home from Yemen through Al Hudaydah port, of whom 746 migrants were voluntary returnees. The majority were Ethiopian migrants but others included Sri Lankans, Indians, Nigerians and Pakistani migrants. Despite the current situation in Yemen, an estimated 7,000 migrants enter the country each month, most of them seeking to reach Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries where they hope to find better economic opportunities.In 2017, IOM helped 2,860 migrants return home from Yemen through Al Hudaydah port, of whom 746 migrants were voluntary returnees. The majority were Ethiopian migrants but others included Sri Lankans, Indians, Nigerians and Pakistani migrants. Despite the current situation in Yemen, an estimated 7,000 migrants enter the country each month, most of them seeking to reach Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries where they hope to find better economic opportunities.
On 6 October, UNICEF recommenced its cash assistance programme. Nearly 1.5 million of the poorest families in Yemen – an estimated 9 million people in all the 333 districts– will benefit from these emergency cash transfers, which are funded by the World Bank. Cash assistance makes a real difference to beneficiaries. With rampant inflation and limited livelihood options, many families have used up all their resources and have resorted to negative coping mechanisms, including child marriage and child labour. With the cash assistance some beneficiaries will be able to send their children back to school and buy basic daily commodities.
83% of FGs mentioned that people in their areas do not sanitize drinking water.  50% of the respondents indicated that only people who have money can get enough water  ( affordability problem )  while 50% of FGs indicated that the situation changes all the time. Sometimes water access is easy, but sometimes it is hard  ( intermittent access problems )
About 80 per cent of Yemenis are estimated to be in debt, and more than half of all households have had to buy food on credit. An increasing number of households are exhausting even these measures as they find themselves without assets that can be sold and traders no longer providing credit. Among market traders, the three main perceived obstacles to trade activities include increases in prices, the ongoing liquidity crisis and increased costs of transport.
It was reported by Johannes Bruwer, the head of an ICRC delegation in Yemen, that “according to local officials a total of 50 people died and 77 were injured'. The ICRC hospital in Al Talh received 30 dead, including 29 children, and 48 of the injured, including a further 30 children.
To accomodate some of the most vulnerable, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is building 4,700 so called “eco huts' in Abs, a town on the coastal plain in Hajjah Governorate. The shelters are designed and built with the help of displaced Yemenis using traditional construction methods and materials.
According to data collected and analyzed by ACLED, reported fatalities since the beginning of 2016 are more than six times higher than the frequently cited UN figure of 10,000.
Independent U.N. experts monitoring Yemen sanctions reported to the Security Council that a coalition blockade in November of areas under Houthi control   which Riyadh said was to stop a flow of arms to the Houthis from Iran   “had the effect of using the threat of starvation as an instrument of war.'
• 22.2 million people in Yemen need assistance in 2018 – one million more than in June 2017. • The 2018 Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan seeks US$2.96 billion to assist 13.1 million people. • Diphtheria has killed 48 Yemenis in 19 governorates. • In 2017, the YHF allocated $129 m to 53 partners to implement 111 projects.
In December, the Logistics Cluster facilitated the overland transport of 840 mt/ 4,598m3of relief items on behalf of ACF, ACTED, CARE, FAO, FHI360, IMC, IOM, Relief International, Save the Children, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF and WFP.
To date, IOM has assisted over 483 Ethiopian migrants with return assistance out of Hudaydah, and 1,205 Somali refugees out of Aden Seaport
545,300 Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets  ( LLINs )  were transported to Abyan, Amran and Hajjah governorates for distribution.  IOM supported the NMCP in conducting the training of 51 surveillance officers from Sana'a on Electronic Disease Early Warning Systems for expansion of Malaria data reporting.
A total of 3,573 conflict affected children benefitted from activities in Child Friendly Spaces  ( CFSs )  in Sana'a and Aden. Among them, 15 children were provided with MHPSS services and 1,460 children participated in awareness raising activities on the importance of education and were encouraged to return to school.
The Emirates Red Crescent, ERC, continues its humanitarian relief efforts in the Hadramaut governorate, where it provided food aid to Yemeni citizens in Tarim.
At least 15 people were killed in an air strike by the Saudi led coalition air strike in northern Yemen, residents said.
Provided multi purpose cash assistance to 138 households upon verification.  Provided transportation assistance to move IDPs to safer locations within or out of Al Hudaydah, and from Reception Centres in Sana'a to other locations  ( e.g. schools )  in close collaboration with NAMCHA. 187 IDPs received evacuation from Al Hudaydah to identified safe areas.
Distributed Rapid Response Mechanism  ( RMM )  kits – containing enough food rations for a family for a week, basic hygiene requirements and other essential items – among 4,314 displaced families.
8 November 2018   The Ministry of Public Health and Population of Yemen has reported 14491 suspected cases and 13 associated deaths during epidemiological week 42  ( 15 – 21 October )  in 2018. 12% are severe cases. The cumulative total number of suspected cholera cases from 1 January 2018 to 21 October 2018 is 242849 with 246 associated deaths  ( CFR 0.14% ) . Children under five represent 31.7% of the total suspected cases. 22 out of 23 governorates and 306 out of 333 districts in Yemen have been affected.
Despite conflict restrictions in Al Hudaydah, Hajjah and Raymah, the sub cluster members continued to provide critical services reaching a total of 29,212 children  ( 5,154 boys; 5,454 girls )  and adults  ( 59,56 male; 12,848 female )  with psychosocial support. In Al Hudaydah, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour provided case management services to 146 children  ( 70 boys; 76 girls ) . In Yemen, child protection programming continues to face major challenges related to political, military and bureaucratic context that are limiting the operational space for UNICEF and its partners.
Late October into November 2018, UNICEF, along with its partners in the field, facilitated access for 24,986 students  ( 14,990 boys; 9,996 girls )  to a better learning environment through the construction of six new classrooms in two schools in Sa'ada  ( three classrooms in each school )  and repair of latrines in 32 schools in Ibb, Aden, Abyan, Shabwah and Lahj governorates. Technical needs assessments are ongoing to rehabilitate schools that recently hosted IDPs who have fled the western coast, and for the repair of WASH facilities in 417 schools in various governorates. These interventions will benefit around 145,000 children. In Marib and Taiz governorates, 207 teachers and supervisors  ( 114 male; 93 female )  were trained on psychosocial support education enhancing their capacity to attend to the needs of 5,384 conflict affected students  ( 2,322 boys; 3,062 girls ) .
In southern governorates, the teachers' strike has ended and all schools are open again. The strike was caused by teachers requesting a salary increment. Ongoing challenges remain however, in light of the lack of school staff salaries. UNICEF is advocating with all parties to find a temporary solution and will continue advocating with all parties to resume school staff salaries in an effort to maintain access to education for children.
UNICEF continues to support the development of the Yemen Socio Economic Update. The issue focusses on Yemeni Riyal Devaluation Ignites Inflation and provides an analysis of the key factors affecting foreign exchange, implications of the exchange rate shock on inflation, and suggested response to the crisis.
To ensure more lives are not lost, with some 85,000 children estimated to have already died from extreme hunger and disease, the UN Security Council needs to guarantee that the five humanitarian steps defined by the UN to avoid a full blown famine in the country, are implemented without delay and parties comply at all times with international law, as called for in this resolution.
The UN agency has learned that many desperately poor people have taken to selling part of their food rations for education, medicines and rent.
Since the onset of the Al Hudaydah Offensive in June 2018, more than 76,500 households have been internally displaced. UNHCR assisted some 100,000 people as part of the Al Hudaydah response, and will continue to scale up as more civilians flee their homes and humanitarian and protection needs grow. In parallel, strengthening the protection response for persons of concern, including through the expansion of UNHCR's cash assistance programme, remains a priority.
During their checks, WFP monitors amassed photographic and other evidence of trucks illicitly removing food from designated food distribution centres. They also found that the selection of beneficiaries was being manipulated by local officials and that food distribution records were being falsified. It was discovered that some food relief is being given to people not entitled to it and some is being sold for gain in the markets of the capital.
The Rapid Response Mechanism  ( RRM ) , headed by UNFPA reported that as of 29 November, 130,879 households displaced by conflict in Al Hudaydah Governorate had been assisted by RRM.
Since June 2018, UN partners registered some 19,000 displaced families in Hajjah Governorate who fled conflict in Al Hudaydah. Out of the total caseload registered, approximately 15,000 families were provided with RRM assistance however, due to lack of partners able to implement multi purpose cash transfer  ( MPCT )  only 3,706 families have received the MPCT so far. Humanitarian partners are looking at options to expand cash assistance.
Since mid November when fighting escalated in Hajjah Governorate, thousands of people have fled the Al  Sheab area of Haradh District and the Al Hamra area of Hayran District for neighbouring Abs District. An RRM partner in Abs district has distributed RRM kits to displaced families. Lack of non food items  ( NFIs )  and shelter supplies have been raised by partners and only 500 families have received NFI supplies. So far, UNICEF through OXFAM, have installed 1,600 emergency latrines of the 3,500 planned in Abs district. RRM partners are in the process of identifying and supporting newly displaced families.
During the reporting period, armed clashes continued in conflict areas in Sa'ada and Al Jawf governorates causing civilian casualties and damaging farms and houses. To the west of Sa'ada Governorate, in areas that border Saudi Arabia, airstrikes were reported in a number of districts and artillery shelling hit houses and farms in Monnabih, Razih, Baqim, Al Dhaher and Sheda districts.
In response to the increased fighting in Hodeidah governorate, a Rapid Response Mechanism was established in June to accelerate the humanitarian response for newly displaced persons and to ensure their most basic needs are addressed during their displacement. In particular, WFP is providing displaced families with Immediate Response Rations  ( IRR )  which are sufficient for five days through Humanitarian Service Points and Humanitarian and Humanitarian Transit Sites. From the start of the large scale internally displaced persons  ( IDPs )  response in June until November, WFP provided IRRs to 128,975 households.
An INGO, is in the process setting up two community centres for displaced people in Majz and Sahar districts in Sa'ada Governorate. The centres will provide various services including legal aid, medical referrals and livelihood support for displaced people and vulnerable members of the host communities. Key humanitarian response efforts in the governorate include UNHCR completing the distribution of NFIs to 1,974 displaced families in Razih District and WFP completing the November food distribution to 103,401 people. The food ration distribution in Al Jawf Governorate is ongoing.
Since 2015, the Republic of Yemen has been overtaken by a brutal conflict that has resulted in massive casualties, hundreds of thousands of internally displaced families, substantial infrastructure damage, and hampered service delivery across both the economy and society. In total, according to the 2018 Humanitarian Needs Overview from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, approximately 22.2 million people, roughly 75% of the population,are in need of some manner of humanitarian or protection assistance.
During the reporting period, conflict areas in Taizz remained active. Clashes were reported on the eastern and western outskirts of Taizz City, in northwestern Maqbanah District and in the south along the border with Lahj. Artillery fire reportedly hit homes in villages to the west of the city and shelling injured six civilians. Security incidents were reported in Taizz City.
The OCHA mission visited IDP settlements in Al Khawkha where families who fled the fighting in Al Hudaydah desperately need humanitarian assistance. The Head of Office also met with NGO representatives in Al Mokha and Al Turbah, who underlined the importance of greater humanitarian presence on the ground.
As of 28 November, the total number of families displaced from Al Hudaydah to the Aden area was 13,289 households. During the reporting period, WFP completed the distribution of food baskets to 55,992 HHs in Al Dhale'e, 96,828 HHs in Lahj and 7,440 households in Shabwah.
The latest cholera update from WHO indicated that the cumulative number of suspected cholera cases from 1 January 2018 until 11 November 2018 was 280,198 people with 372 associated deaths. Over the three weeks to 11 November, 225 districts reported suspected cholera cases and 32 per cent of all suspected cases were children under age 5. In the week to 11 November, the last week for which figures are available, 12,289 suspected cases were reported and there were 10 associated deaths. The districts that reported the highest number of suspected cases were: Monabbih in Sa'ada Governorate  ( 459 ) , Bani Al Harith  ( 299 )  and Bani Hushaysh in Sana'a Governorate  ( 290 ) , Maghirib Ans in Dhamar Governorate  ( 280 ) , Hamdan in Sana'a City  ( 236 )
The protection of civilians continues to be threatened in Al Hudaydah by indiscriminate attacks, as fighting has spilled over into urban areas. According to the latest UN Refugee Agency led  ( UNHCR )  Civilian Impact Monitoring Project  ( CIMP )  report, the number of civilian impact incidents in Al Hudaydah rose by 78 per cent  ( 16 incidents )  from 5 11 July, as the fighting entered more populated areas. Some 88 per cent of these incidents were recorded in the At Tuhayat and Zabid districts of the governorate, which resulted in 59 civilian casualties, double than that of the previous week. The incident with the largest potential protection implication occurred in At Tuhayat, where the main water tanks supplying the city were reportedly damaged, affecting as many as 14,424 households. The CIMP report also indicated that 50 per cent of the incidents were caused by airstrikes, followed by shelling.
UNHCR continues to work closely with humanitarian partners to respond to the displacement from Al Hudaydah and surrounding areas. The Agency is delivering life saving shelter and protection/referral services to displaced families at the Humanitarian Service Points  ( HSPs ) , Transit Sites and Collective Centres in Al Hudaydah city and other governorates.
Conflict in Yemen reached a peak in August 2018, with the highest number of civilian casualties reported in any month of the year. As documented by OHCHR, the governorates most affected by casualties in the first nine months of 2018 were Hudaydah  ( 29% ) , Sa'ada  ( 19% )  and Taizz  ( 12% ) , as well as Hajjah  ( 9% )  and Amanat al Asimah  ( 7% ) . According to the Protection Cluster's Civilian Impact Monitoring Project, which expanded to nationwide coverage in August, there were more than 480 incidents of armed violence in August and September. Most incidents were airstrikes  ( 41% )  and shelling  ( 41% ) , but landmines, IEDs and UXOs  ( 7% ) , small arms fire  ( 4% )  and snipers  ( 4% )  were also significant. Women and children were estimated to comprise one third of the civilian casualties monitored in August and September. While most incidents struck civilian homes and farms, 6% of incidents struck health, education, water, food and other protected sites, while more than 7% struck civilians while in their vehicles.
UNHCR, through partner Jeel Al Bena distributed CRIs to 2,274 displaced families and Enhanced Emergency Shelter Kits  ( EESK )  to 1,146 families in Hudaydah city, Al Marawi'ah and Ad Durayhimi. In Ibb, UNHCR through the Yemen Women's Union  ( YWU ) , distributed CRIs to 94 families and to 86 families in At Ta'iziyah in Taizz. Further to this, UNHCR distributed kits consisting of solar lamps, sleeping mats, water buckets, and plastic sheets through Nahda Makers Organization  ( NMO )  to 1,000 families displaced in the Al Khawkhah and Hays districts of Al Hudaydah as well as to 250 families in Aden. UNHCR through INTERSOS provided cash for rental subsidies to over 100 displaced families in Aden, Lahj and south Taizz.
Intense fighting continued in al Hudaydah, particularly around the highway leading east to Sana'a, as well as the road junctions to the south and east of the city. Daily clashes also resulted in heavy impact on civilians living in the districts of ad Durayhimi and al Tuhayat. Major incidents include the damage and civilian loss at al Thawra Hospital and fish market in early August, two strikes hitting civilians in vehicles in August and October and damage to Bani Jaber IDP camp, all of which resulted in large numbers of civilian casualties.
To reaffirm the importance of Protection principles, on 9 July, UNHCR's Protection team organized a training session for partners in Sa'ada and Al Jawf. The training focused on concepts of protection, importance of IDP protection, protection rights of IDPs, community based protection networks and the code of conduct for its members.
As part of the ongoing verification exercise for refugees in Kharaz camp, some 932 households have been verified so far; representing 3,089 individuals. UNHCR has trained Immigration, Passport and Naturalisation Authority  ( IPNA )  staff to carry out the verification exercise, which has been ongoing for some months now.
Meanwhile, children remain at heightened risk of injury during aerial bombardment, shelling, shooting and due to explosive remnants of war, and prevention of family separation is a priority along with women and girls, particularly female headed households, who may be at risk of sexual harassment and violence.
In terms of number of conflict incidents, Sa'ada witnessed more incidents than any other governorate in August and September, accounting for 41% of incidents monitored by the Civilian Impact Monitoring Project. Airstrikes and shelling represent the vast majority of incidents, while shelling incidents have recently become more frequent than airstrikes, signaling an increase in ground fighting. The most significant incident included an airstrike striking a school bus in early August, leading to numerous casualties of children and adults.
Over the past six months, the administrative procedures for visas, travel authorisations and imports to Yemen have increased considerably. The rules required by different authorities change frequently and hamper our capacity to deliver aid.
The PSS sessions were conducted from 1 to 6 December by four local partner associations identified by OXFAM. The purpose of the sessions was to provide the communities – including women and youth – information on how to access grievance services intended to help them deal with post traumatic stress. Tailored sessions were also provided for individual participants who wanted to become community advocates and mediators. These sessions focused on how to strengthen a participant's capacity to identify people in need of assistance, as well as to train them to resolve community based conflicts.
The International Committee of the Red Cross warns conditions in Yemen are expected to worsen even if a political solution is reached to end more than three years of civil war that have killed or injured more than 65,000 people.
Bruwer notes the United Nations estimates 2.9 million women and children are severely malnourished and at risk of death. He says four out of five people or 22 million people need international aid to survive. He says 14 million are on the verge of starvation.
He tells VOA the Yemeni people are so weakened by years of fighting and deprivation they are vulnerable to a number of life threatening diseases.
In recent weeks, fighting has escalated in areas east and south of Al Hudaydah Governorate's Al Hudaydah city, rendering the main road to Yemen's capital city of Sana'a inacesssible to relief actors, the UN reports.
Yemen hosts over 270,000 refugees, the vast majority of whom  ( over 256,000 )  are Somalis. Despite the challenging security environment which makes humanitarian access difficult, UNHCR has continued to help refugees and asylum seekers in Al Hudaydah governorate. Most of them are Eritreans. They are particularly vulnerable because of the tense situation and changing frontlines and who have limited flight options available to them. Since 2017, UNHCR has also helped 2,135 Somali refugees to return to Somalia through its Assisted Spontaneous Return programme with IOM.
As in July, vendor KIs reported that price inflation, shortage of demand, and lack of liquidity remained their three primary constraints, with an increase in the proportion of vendor KIs citing price inflation.
Across Yemen, UNICEF has accelerated the creation of specialized programmes to prevent and treat severe acute malnutrition in children in existing health facilities and using Mobile Teams to access hard to reach areas. This includes training staff and supplying facilities with essential equipment, specialized foods for such severely malnourished children and medicines. In addition, UNICEF has provided essential supplies including for example ready to use therapeutic foods, antibiotics and therapeutic milk.
63% of water trucking vendor KIs stated that they charged additional delivery costs based upon the distance between the water source and delivery point. The price reported for 10km is 7,000 YER, for 20 km 9,000 YER and for 30 km 11,500 YER.
UNICEF and the MoPHP also responded to the measles outbreak reported in Sa'ada governorate. To halt the spread of the measles, a streamlined vaccination response was rolled out, in combination with the polio vaccination campaign. An Integrated Measles, Rubella, Polio vaccination, combined with Vitamin A supplementation, was provided in all 15 districts of Sa'ada. Vitamin A is a key intervention to reduce measles morbidity and mortality.
UNHCR cash assistance targeted people with specific protection needs and those lacking adequate shelter or the key materials to keep warm, particularly during winter. Cash will remain at the forefront of UNHCR's assistance in Yemen in 2019.
WASH needs remain high throughout the country. Public water and sanitation systems require increased support to provide a minimum level of services and avoid collapse. Sanitation and waste water treatment services are overwhelmed: an estimated 46 per cent of urban populations are connected to partially functioning public water networks, whilst lack of electricity or revenues creates significant reliance on humanitarian support.
UNHCR provided core relief items  ( CRI )  – such as mattresses, blankets and other household items – to over 700,000 individuals, and provided emergency shelter kits  ( ESK )  to 125,000 people. In kind distributions provide essential support to IDPs, returnees and heavily burdened host communities, especially where the scale of displacement and intensity of fighting make such items unavailable or inaccessible in local markets.
Around 85 per cent of UNHCR's in kind distributions followed the June escalation of fighting in Al Hudaydah. Based on needs assessments, over half of UNHCR's CRI distributions and over 85 per cent of its ESKs in Yemen were distributed in the three heavily affected north western governorates of Al Hudaydah, Sa'ada and Hajjah.
On August 9, an airstrike in Sa'ada governorate struck a bus in a market area, which killed 46 people and injured 75 others. Most of those who died were children aged 10 to 13 years. Along with the UN Secretary General and humanitarian agencies, ADRA condemned this attack. Between March 2015 and June 2018, UNICEF estimates that 2,398 children have been killed and 3,652 children have been maimed because of the war in Yemen.
UNHCR provided protection support to 105,000 persons, working through community based protection networks and through eight UNHCR supported community centres. Protection activities included social counselling for 40,000 people, psychosocial support for 35,000, and legal information and assistance for 30,000.
According to UN OCHA, more than 7.4 million people in need are located in areas with significant access constraints. Out of this, 1.4 million people are located in high access severity levels, a 200,000 increase from February 2018.
ADEN  ( Reuters )    At least 18 people have been killed in southern Yemen in flooding caused by heavy rains, the government run news agency Saba reported on Wednesday.
UNHCR's health care activities target Yemeni host communities as well as refugees and asylum seekers. Over 50,000 of the medical consultations in 2018 were for host community members.
In November, 92 Mobile Teams  ( MTs )  provided a package of health and nutrition services to mothers and children mainly in areas with internally displaced populations. The MTs provided 15,547 children with routine vaccinations. A total of 16,687 children received Integrated management of Childhood Illnesses  ( IMCI )  services with 4,361 treated for diarrhoea, 3,164 treated for pneumonia, 205 treated for dysentery, 229 treated for malaria, and 5,364 children received deworming treatment. A further 11,333 pregnant women were provided with reproductive health services with 4,357 provided antenatal care, 101 were provided with postnatal care, and 3,604 were provided with iron folate supplements and 3,271 women received vaccinations against tetanus.
UNHCR signed a new agreement with the Immigration, Passport and Nationality Authority  ( IPNA )  and, in September, supported Yemeni authorities to complete a joint verification exercise in Kharaz Camp. The population of Kharaz Camp  ( in Lahj Governorate in the south of Yemen )  was significantly revised as a result of the first comprehensive verification since 2009, reducing its registered population from 16,000 to 8,400.
Meanwhile, 4,400 asylum seekers were newly registered with UNHCR. Of these, over 90 per cent came from Somalia, while the remainder came from Ethiopia, Eritrea and Syria, among other countries.
With support from the Cities Alliance and The World Bank, the CDS process in each of these cities has brought together public and private sector lead  ership to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the city, think strategically about opportunities for equitable economic growth, develop a long term vision, and draft a prioritized action plan.
Now in its second year, UNHCR's assisted spontaneous return  ( ASR )  programme helped 2,591 Somalis to return from Yemen to Somalia in 2018. The programme continues to provide information and counselling on returns to thousands of Somalis through three return help desks, in Kharaz Camp, Al Mukalla City and Basateen neighbourhood, in Aden.
UNICEF continued its support for the continuous operation of water supply systems in Amanat Al Asimah, Al Hudaydah, Amran, Al Bayda, Dhamar, Hajjah, Ibb, Lahj, Hadramouth, Taiz and Sadaa, reaching over 4.1 million people. These critical interventions include provision of fuel, electricity, spare parts and disinfectants for chlorination.
UNHCR assisted the resettlement of 114 refugees who were identified as being particularly at risk. This year, 60 Eritreans, 51 Ethiopians and 3 Somalis were resettled in Sweden.
UNICEF is working with Local Corporations  ( LCs )  to support operation of Waste water treatment plants  ( WWTP )  and engage in rehabilitation of sewage collection systems in Amanat Al Asimah, Al Hudaydah city, Sa'ada city, Taiz city, Amran city, Al Mukalla city, Ad Dhale'e and Aden. Up to date, approximately 2.4 million people have benefited from these critical interventions.
The Country Task Force documented and verified 123 cases of killing and maiming of children during the month of November of which 25 children were killed  ( 13 boys; 12 girls )  and 98 injured  ( 71 boys; 27 girls ) . Sixty two per cent of these cases took place in Al Hudaydah governorate followed by 12 per cent in Taizz and eight per cent in Hajjah. Attacks on and military use of schools and hospitals increased from two to seven incidents compared to the previous month in Abyan, Aden, Al Dhale'e, Al Hudaydah, Al Mahwit and Taizz.
UNICEF and its partners continued to provide lifesaving education on the risks posed by mines, unexploded ordnances and explosive remnants of war to conflict affected children and their caregivers through school and community based activities. These messages reached 209,939 people, including 152,235 children  ( 82,164 boys; 70,071 girls )  and 57,704 adults  ( 30,352 male; 27,352 female )  covering six governorates. Through its implementing partners, UNICEF continued to support the referral and provision of specialized health services to children with injuries and disabilities including facilitating the access to services of the most vulnerable children by supporting the transportation and accommodation. At least, 60 children  ( 42 boys; 18 girls )  were provided with medical and other services.
Psychosocial support  ( PSS )  was provided to 42,764 people, including 22,266 children  ( 11,950 boys; 10,316 girls )  and 20,498 adults  ( 6,453 male; 14,045 female )  through a network of fixed and mobile child friendly spaces in 14 governorates. As part of these initiatives, 6,207 people, including 4,744 children, were provided with knowledge and skills on protection during emergencies. Through the case management program, 1,353 cases of vulnerable children  ( 763 boys; 590 girls )  were identified, of which 1,164 cases of vulnerable children  ( 652 boys; 512 girls )  have so far been referred to individual counselling and critical child protection services.
The humanitarian crisis in Yemen has been ongoing for years. This crisis has been massively exacerbated as a result of the ongoing armed conflict. According to recent estimates by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs  ( OCHA ) , 22.2 million out of Yemen's population of 29.3 million are in need of humanitarian aid and protection, of which 11.3 million are in acute need – an increase of more than one million since June 2017.1 The number of food insecure people has increased to 17.8 million, with 8.4 million of them on the verge of famine.2 As of December 2017, OCHA estimated the number of internally displaced persons  ( IDPs )  at over three million, 76% of whom are women and children.3 There are more than 16 million people who cannot access safe drinking water and health care services.4 More than three million children and lactating mothers are malnourished.5 Among those at particular risk are women lacking access to reproductive health services including antenatal care, midwifery services, postnatal care, emergency obstetric and newborn care
The Child Protection Area of Responsibility  ( CPAoR )  completed the data analysis for the child protection component of the humanitarian needs overview with initial findings showing a 14 per cent overall increase in children in need and 36 per cent increase in children in acute need. Governorates with either an ongoing conflict or a history of active conflict and significant access restrictions have demonstrated the highest severity. These included Al Hudaydah, Hajjah, Taiz, Marib, Saa'da and Marib.
The UNFPA has documented that “pregnant and breastfeeding women are especially vulnerable to malnutrition, and those weakened by the nutrition crisis are more prone to infections, including cholera. Pregnant women who contract cholera have a higher risk of developing dangerous or even fatal complications  [ ... ]  Women, in their roles as caregivers, may also face heightened exposure to cholera.
Cases of famine have been documented both in areas under Houthi control and under Hadi control. Famine, malnutrition and the scarce availability of food adversely affect the health of breastfeeding women and can lead to numerous health complications, including  ( but not limited to )  anaemia, infant mortality and even infant deformities. Limited or no access to medical care inflicts a severe impact on women, especially during pregnancy and childbirth as it puts them at greater risk of pregnancy related complications, death and disability.23
Hodaida, a Houthi controlled area, is on the brink of famine. This is a result of both the blockade imposed by the Saudi led coalition and also because of the Houthis, who have planted mines in coastal areas and farms so the fishermen and farmers are unable to operate.
WFP and its partners reached a total of 809,763 beneficiaries in August  ( 427,539 beneficiaries through the general food assistance and 382,224 beneficiaries with commodity vouchers provided by the Traders' Network Programme  ( CV TN )  ) . August targets for At Tuhayat and Ad Durayhimi were not achieved due to access problems.
Authorities in Sana'a have formally informed the World Health Organization that the implementation of the cholera vaccination campaign in the areas under their control is rejected.
Displacement exposes women and girls to new and/or different forms of gender based violence. The UNFPA reports that in Sana'a, Aden and Hajjah – the governorates hosting the largest numbers of IDPs – almost 800,000 IDPs are women and girls between the ages of 15 and 49 who are at risk of gender based violence, including sexual violence and rape.3
The inability to meet basic needs and the loss of livelihoods leave women particularly exposed to abuse; this is worsened by “displacement, disrupted livelihoods, disrupted access to public services, overcrowding, increase in rent and food prices, exacerbated by the import restriction and lack of employment, income or non payments of public servants' salary.'
37 Indeed, the UNFPA reports that “females are the first family members to eat less as a coping mechanism' because of their role of caregivers which implies that it is their first and foremost duty to prepare food for the family.38 The gendered impact of the crisis has led to coping strategies by IDPs and at risk groups which range, for example, from “child marriage, survival sex, sex for rent, begging,  [ to ]  forced/coerced prostitution and begging'39 that put women in a position of extreme vulnerability.
At least 8.4 million people are currently targeted for food assistance with a food basket covering 80% of the households Kilocalories needs. However, the assistance provided is not sufficient to cover the huge gaps largely due to limited funding and access issues in the areas most affected by the conflict.
The increase in gender based violence and lack of accountability for these violations is partly due to the fact that the country currently does not have a system in place to address either domestic violence or gender based violence more generally. While conflict has been a driving factor in the increase of cases of gender based violence, such violence is rooted in the pre existing severe discrimination against women in the Yemeni legal system. Many laws, including the Personal Status Law and the Penal Code, indeed contain discriminatory provisions against women. Discriminatory legal provisions coupled with the collapse of the legal system have contributed to the deterioration of the protection of women. This is compounded by the lack of support structures for survivors of gender based violence, with shelters in only four governorates.42
Food consumption related coping strategies such as reduced portions sizes, allowing children to consume at expense of adults and consumption of less preferred food are applied by a large number of the population in most districts of Yemen.
Women human rights defenders, political activists and women belonging to certain ethnic minorities have experienced arbitrary detention and enforced disappearances, mostly in Houthi controlled areas. However, such violations also occur in areas back under Hadi control. In this regard, the Women Solidarity Network documented a case of enforced disappearance in Aden of Ansam Abdulsamad, a woman political activist and a security force member, on 15 September 2017; her whereabouts remain unknown
An estimated 3,500 people fled from Al Hudaydah's Ad Durayhimi District to Al Hudaydah city on September 14 due to escalated fighting in the district, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees  ( UNHCR )  reported. As of September 21, the UN agency had provided emergency relief commodities, protection services, and shelter assistance to more than 100,000 conflict affected individuals as part of the Al Hudaydah RRM.
Though there are food supplies in the marketplace for now, families are unable to afford even the most basic items like bread, milk or eggs, making an already precarious situation even worse. Our teams have heard that some households are being forced to make impossible choices like deciding to take a malnourished baby to hospital at the expense of feeding the rest of the family.
IOM, the UN Migration Agency, estimates Hudaydah's displaced population has now reached an estimated 336,846 men, women and children due to a flare up in violence that began two months ago.
The port city of Hodeidah in Yemen has for the last months been subject to heavy fighting with severe consequences for the civilian population and large displacement. According to the UN, nearly 470,000 people have fled Hodeidah Governorate since early June – in a country where millions already are displaced and 75 percent of the populations are dependent on humanitarian aid.
The sheer numbers speak for themselves. More than 22 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, 17.8 million are food insecure and 8.4 million don't know where to get their next meal from. During 2018, DRC has scaled up emergency capacity to respond to what the UN has labelled as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.
UNHCR activities are ongoing in Hajjah and Al Hudaydah Governorates despite the continued deterioration of the security situation. Following the attack in the IDP camp in the Al Khawkhah district of Al Hudaydah Governorate, UNHCR's partner Danish Refugee Council is providing psychosocial support and emergency cash assistance to 80 affected families.
As of 23 August, humanitarian partners in the Sana'a Hub had distributed rapid response assistance to 16,241 households that have been displaced since 1 June to Sana'a City and Dhamar Governorate. Some 307 displaced households  ( 1,674 individuals )  who fled Al Hudaydah and are living in nine schools, have also received rapid response assistance. Meanwhile, authorities in Sana'a handed over 31 child soldiers, captured during the conflict, to a humanitarian organization.
The conflict in Yemen is also affecting refugees and asylum seekers. UNHCR and partners face significant challenges in ensuring a safe environment, adequate protection, humanitarian assistance and access to essential, life saving services for refugees who may be vulnerable to serious protection concerns such as early marriage, child labour, increased detention and dangerous onward movement, as the crisis has impacted on their resilience and livelihoods.
Following several days of clashes, a relative calm has returned to parts of Taizz City. Clashes continued in the northeastern part of the city and in Maqbanah District. In Ibb Governorate, armed clashes are reported in the old city area of Al Mashanah District and increased criminal activity is reported in other areas.
More than 11 million children need humanitarian aid.
The number of suspected cholera cases has increased in Yemen, suggesting that the country might face a possible third wave of the epidemic. The current rains have increased the risk. WHO reports increased presentations at health facilities, including severe cases that require further observation, and some deaths. Twenty two deaths in 16 districts are under investigation.
About 1.1 million MT of food commodities were available in Yemen in the first week of August, including 587,000MT of wheat  ( grain/flour )  and 71,150MT of rice. The wheat is sufficient to cover the national requirements for about 70 days, while the rice is sufficient for two months. WFP reports that most essential food items were widely available in all governorates except Al Hudaydah, where fighting has disrupted businesses.
On 29 July, the Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, Lise Grande issued a statement warning that civilians are at extreme risk from airstrikes in Al Hudaydah Governorate where an unstoppable epidemic of cholera could be triggered should water and sanitation system breakdown. As of 29 July, some 30,647 displaced households  ( HH )  from Al Hudaydah Governorate have been assisted through the rapid response mechanism  ( RRM )  out of a total of 39,995 HHs registered.
Bound by mountains and steep slopes to the east and west, the city has few options but to expand primarily along its north and south axes within its basin.
Sana'a is located in an upland basin at an alti  tude of 2300 meters within a mountainous and semi arid region of Yemen. Because of its high altitude, the city enjoys a moderate climate year around. The main rainy season is in summer. The nearest port is Hodeidah, roughly 250 kilo  meters away.
The city developed around its medieval core, and Old Sana'a has been declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
The urban and architectural fabric within the city walls remains primarily intact.
There are also said to be 100 mosques, 12 public baths, and ten spe  cialized market areas  ( one for clothes, grain, salt and spices, silver and gold, and cat  tle, among others ) .
Virtually all structures within the old city exhibit a very distinctive vernacular style that dates back hundreds of years. Also, the medieval urban fabric of lanes and small squares remains intact.
Until 1962, Sana'a could be considered a medi  eval city stalled in time. Today, this old city of Sana'a with the Bir el Azab area to the West 10 represents a tiny core of what has become a sprawling city.
In the short term the result of the depreciation is likely to be that an additional 3.5 million people will become food insecure, adding to the existing caseload of 8.4 million people who need emergency food assistance, and over 2 million people are likely to be at heightened risk of famine.
The depreciation of the currency has affected the average market price of basic food commodities which have increased by up to 10 per cent in recent weeks. The cost of the minimum food basket has increased by 35 per cent since November 2017. The price of fuel commodities   cooking gas, diesel and petrol   have also increased by more than 25 per cent between November 2017 and September 2018.
Within the last seven years, the city has enjoyed relative prosperity because of the implemen  tation of improvements of services and infra  structure, especially related to water supply, telephone, roads, street lighting, drainage, and beautification and cleanliness of the city.
Today, Sana'a accommodates 8.9 percent of Yemen's total population and 30.3 percent of the country's urban population.2 It hosts between 20 percent and 30 percent of the country's industrial base, varying by the source of information.
In Sana'a, the poor account for 15 percent of all residents.3 High inflation rates of between 10 percent and 20 percent during the past five years combined with low per capita income growth  ( 0.7 per  cent per annum )  and a skewed distribution of growth in the favor of the better off suggest have impoverished part of the middle classes during the past two decades. Despite govern  ment efforts to orient public policies towards the poor4, all indicators suggest that poverty incidence in Sana'a cannot be expected to decline significantly in the near future
Poor families live in older dilapidated structures in central neighborhoods, small single storey structures in the middle of typical multi storey buildings of middle class neighborhoods or in small rented flats throughout the city and also in fringe infor  mal and squatter settlements. Where the poor live and how they live is mainly driven by their economic circumstances and their access to affordable land and housing.
Humanitarian partners are doing everything possible to assist people in need and prepare for all possible scenarios. Over the last several weeks, agencies have procured and pre positioned additional supplies, aiming to deliver 70,000 rapid response kits mainly to local warehouses in Al Hudaydah Governorate and adjacent districts of neighbouring governorates. Those kits include immediate food rations, hygiene supplies and dignity kits.
Since August, about 20,000 people have relocated to other parts of the region, joining several thousand others who fled earlier fighting. It is difficult to trace them because there are no formal camps for internally displaced people  ( IDPs ) .