nlp-thedeep/humsetbias huggingface dataset:
Since 2018, more and more survivors of GBV and victims of trafficking have been identified in Guyana. For survivors of GBV and trafficking, access to assistance and support from relevant UN agencies and government authorities is not systematic or guaranteed. In a meeting with the Head of the Counter Trafficking in Persons Unit in the Government, various challenges that victims of trafficking in persons have to be granted a legal immigration status in Guyana were highlighted. Despite the fact that victims of trafficking cooperate with the judiciary to have the perpetrators prosecuted, they are not granted a legal immigration status in Guyana and have to either be repatriated to their countries of origin or follow all the requirements from the Immigration Unit to regularize their immigration status in the country as any other foreigners in the country.
With regards to shelters for victims of trafficking in persons, it was mentioned at the meeting that the Ministry of Social Protection has shelters and transitional spaces, and depending on the status of the case of a victim of trafficking, the person may be placed in one or the other. Venezuelans who have been victims of trafficking in persons have access to these shelters and transitional spaces according to the Head of the Counter Trafficking Unit. However, some of them prefer to be placed in apartments, which are provided by the Counter Trafficking Unit with the support from IOM.
As a safety measure, most of the Venezuelan women providing sexual services try to protect and support each other by being in regular communication with each other, particularly when they go to work in the mining area.
Authorities in Port Kaituma expressed their concerns about an increasing number of children that are not enrolled in schools. The local authorities in Bartica mentioned that a total of 15 students of secondary school age have been assisted by the Government of Guyana with uniforms, school meals, books and transportation.
All of this is negatively affecting Venezuelans, especially women and girls, who do not feel safe and are emotionally affected by the stigma as well as the discrimination and xenophobic sentiments directed towards them by the host community.
Reportedly, transportation costs, accommodation and meals are paid by the person bringing them to Guyana. Once they arrive in the country, they are secretly transported to Georgetown or Bartica, locked in a house and instructed to pay a high amount of money  ( between 200 to 700 USD )  for their transportation, food and accommodation. Once the debt is paid, the person is supposed to be let go. Some reported being regularly robbed when they were trying to save money to pay the debt. Those who work in bars face a lot of risks such as aggressive clients, sexual violence, and abuse.
With regards to minors being trafficked, the Head of the Counter Trafficking Unit mentioned that cases of minors have been identified and assistance is being provided. No specific data was provided, however, it was mentioned that boys are usually trafficked for labor exploitation unlike girls that are usually trafficked for sexual exploitation.
During the rapid GBV assessment, some women shared information on the challenges faced by domestic violence survivors, whose husbands and fathers of their children are Guyanese, and who are unable to seek assistance from the authorities due to fear of retaliation. Some of them want to find protection for themselves and their children, either in Venezuela or any other country. However, the requirement of the exit permit signed by the father of the children is a big challenge for Venezuelan women to obtain.
In a FGD with Venezuelan women in the same location, it was mentioned that some Venezuelan women who go to the mines to engage in survival sex have been sexually exploited, beaten up and/or raped by their clients and some have disappeared or been killed. The majority of the women agreed that working in the mines was highly dangerous; however, they can make a good amount of money. Incidents that happen in the mines go usually unreported.
Cases of pregnancies among girls as young as 12 years have been reported. There were reports shared at the FGDs of Venezuelan adolescent girls between 16 and 17 years old being victims of trafficking in persons in bars and brothels in Guyana, particularly in the mining areas. These adolescents usually travel alone and use fake identification cards to enter Guyana. Some children have been seen begging and involved in child labor in the towns and also in the mines.
Incidents of parents mistreating their children and forcing them to work were shared in the FGD in Port Kaituma. However, no formal reports have been made to the Child Care Protection Officer in this location. There were reports also of incidents of sexual violence against Venezuelan girls and the various challenges faced by the parents in reporting these incidents to the police and having the alleged perpetrators brought to justice.
In terms of mental health and psychosocial support, there are limited options available to Venezuelans arriving in Guyana. The Mental Health Department of the Ministry of Health in Georgetown was established three years ago. According to the Head of the Department, services are being provided to mainly Guyanese, including those returning from Venezuela.
From the assessment, target groups identified word of mouth, social media platforms, such as Facebook  ( is also used to access or circulate information, for example most visited pages are “Support for Displaced Persons', “Venezolanos en Guyana' and “Venezolanos Luchadores' )  as the most frequently used method of information sharing among the Venezuelan community. WhatsApp is another commonly used tool for sharing and receiving information, including searches for employment opportunities.
During the rapid GBV assessment, a number of Guyanese organizations working on the protection of the rights of LGBTI community members were contacted, however, none of them is currently providing any support to Venezuelan or returning Guyanese LGBTI. During the FGDs and KII, questions on possible risks faced by Venezuelan or returning Guyanese who identify as LGBTI as well as barriers in accessing services were asked; however, the participants in the FGD and KII were unable to provide answers.
In FGDs in Bartica and Port Kaituma, it was shared that Venezuelan children have on occasion been bullied in schools based on their nationality. They are also discriminated by Guyanese children when they do not have the resources to pay for the school uniforms, shoes, etc.
Some authorities in the locations visited as part of the rapid GBV assessment, believe that the healthcare system is overburdened due to the influx of Venezuelans and returning Guyanese. Authorities in Mabaruma believe that the presence of Venezuelans brings health and security risks, especially those engaged in survival sex and those temporarily staying at the dock without proper shelter, cooking and WASH facilities.
Exact numbers of Venezuelans in Guyana are not available, however an estimate1 suggests that approximately 36,400 Venezuelans and returning Guyanese have temporarily settled in Guyana and are in need of assistance and protection.
In regard to Venezuelan men, most of them continue to seek regular employment but are usually limited to unstable and exploitative options. No information was shared on Venezuelan men turning to sex work in exchange for money.
Health care is free of charge in hospitals in Guyana, regardless of the migratory status that the person has and is accessible to everyone without discrimination or prejudice. If Venezuelan women go to a clinic or a private doctor then services are provided for a fee. Medicines are also provided for free in hospitals; however, if the medicines are not available in the hospitals, patients must buy them from pharmacies.
Venezuelan women are working in shops, cleaning services, bars, hotels, and nightclubs. In Georgetown, Venezuelan women mentioned on several occasions that some of the main barriers for them to have access to formal economic opportunities were the language and lack of professional references in Guyana. Therefore, most of the Venezuelan women and even the Guyanese returnees end up working in places where they are most likely to be exploited, verbally and physically abused by either their employers or co  workers. Some Venezuelan women end up working in bars and having sex with clients in exchange for money. This situation extends to region 7 and 1, where many women resort to survival sex, not because they want to, but because there is no other option to help their families in Venezuela.
While efforts have been made by the Government for Venezuelans to have access to existing shelters, this is still limited. In Bartica, Port Kaituma and Mabaruma, Venezuelans rent rooms in guest houses when they have the financial means. Otherwise, they live in abandoned buildings without electricity or running water, with no privacy for women and girls. A similar situation happens at the dock in Mabaruma where men, women and children are sharing a common and limited space and have no privacy at all. Women and girls are very much at risk in these improvised shelters.
In the FGDs, some Venezuelan women mentioned that they are engaged in romantic relationships with their clients or other Guyanese men, some have children with them. Cases of domestic violence were reported, including emotional and physical abuse by Guyanese partners who at times perceive sex work as some form of infidelity. Those with children are much more likely to receive threats from their partners, such as they will take away their children and prohibit them from going back to Venezuela.
In Georgetown, some Venezuelans are able to rent a house or apartment which they share with other family members, relatives, or friends. Others face a lot of challenges finding a place to spend the night.
From focus group discussions  ( FGD )  conducted in November 2018 by UNFPA and UNHCR with Venezuelan women in Georgetown, serious security risks, GBV incidents and barriers to access to services were identified. Trafficking in persons, sexual violence, exploitation, harassment, and domestic violence are the most common types of violence faced by Venezuelan women in Guyana, and GBV incidents usually go unreported.
A significant pull factor to come to Guyana was the comparative ease of entry into the country in terms of immigration requirements, and the proximity to their places of origin so transportation costs are usually lower than to other countries in the region, such as Brazil or Colombia. Some of them chose Guyana due to the proximity to Venezuela to send goods or medicines to their families.
Most of the participants in the FGDs indicated that they did not face any problems at the immigration office nor were they asked to pay any money for the 90 day stay permit. However, some of them reported communication challenges with immigration authorities due to the fact that they did not speak English and had to rely on someone to translate for them. Currently, immigration officers are being taught Spanish to improve their ability to communicate with the Venezuelans.
Some of them accepted consuming drugs  ( marijuana and ecstasy )  and alcohol, in particular young women who are working in bars and are engaged in survival sex. According to them, consuming drugs helps cope with the situation they are in and with the difficulties they regularly face when providing sexual services. In some cases, the owners of the bars give them drugs to consume. Some others have regular conversations with close friends in Guyana and their families in Venezuela.
In Port Kaituma, women shared that they started working in sex work after arriving to this town and facing difficulties communicating in Spanish and finding a well paid job that could allow them to cover their living expenses and to send money or goods to their families in Venezuela who depend on them. Many stated that they were professionals in their country and had a decent life in Venezuela and that their families do not know what they are doing in Guyana.
The most common reported reasons for leaving Venezuela include: deteriorating political and human rights situation, difficulties to cope with the hyper inflation; lack of access to basic goods and services  ( particularly food and health care ) ; insecurity and violence, among others
During the GBV rapid assessment, information on some incidents of harassment and sexual violence against Venezuelan women allegedly committed by Guyanese taxi drivers were also shared, however these incidents have not been reported to the police for fear of retaliation.
The Government has taken measures to control the movement of Venezuelans in the country by not allowing them to travel from other areas in the country to Georgetown unless they have family members in the capital who can provide support to them mainly with food, shelter, and livelihoods. The practical implementation of these measures still needs to be clarified.
“Guyana is a source and a destination country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor.' The report mentions that women and children from various countries in the region, including Venezuela, are subjected to sex trafficking in mining communities in the interior and urban areas. In addition to this, the report mentions that “limited government presence in the country's interior renders the full extent of trafficking unknown'.3 This preexisted the situation in Venezuela; however the growing numbers of Venezuelans leaving their country and trying to find an income to provide for their families is dramatically feeding smuggling and trafficking in persons networks, labor and sexual exploitation and violence mainly against women and girls.
Participants came from different parts of Venezuela, mainly from Bolivar and Monagas States, as well as locations in other States such as Caracas, Valencia, Puerto La Cruz, Maracaibo, and Tucupita. Most of them had recently arrived or had been in the country for the past 6 months. Some of the men brought their families with them or had family members in Guyana already.
In FGD sessions, both Venezuelan and Guyanese women indicated not reporting incidents of violence and criminality to the police for a variety of reasons. These include a lack of trust in the police in Guyana, language barriers, and the perception that police will request payment of approximately 20,000 Guyanese dollars  ( 96USD )  per incident. When asked about submitting reports on GBV incidents, Venezuelan women mentioned that these are not reported to the police as, allegedly, the police fails to conduct impartial criminal investigations against Venezuelans. They added that they also fear to be questioned, detained and deported, or to be subjected to retaliation by perpetrators of GBV
In terms of security on the streets, Venezuelan women in various locations complained about insecurity, offensive words, harassment, and in some cases sexual violence. Some mentioned that they feel unsafe walking by themselves at night, particularly in places like Mabaruma where the electricity is shut down daily at 23:00. As a protective measure, Venezuelan women walk with relatives or friends. It was also mentioned in various FGDs that it is very common in Guyanese bars for drinks to be “spiked'.
The language barrier has created a challenge in responding to any psycho social support needs of Venezuelan students. Identified potential cases requiring support are being referred to the Welfare Officer. The education sector in this area has had no reported cases of GBV involving Venezuelan students. However, cases of GBV involving children of the host community are known to be occurring but are not being reported. If the incident is reported such cases are very difficult to prosecute due to challenges in locating GBV survivors and perpetrators.
Under the government directive of integrating migrants coming from Venezuela  ( including Guyanese returnees ) , the State of Guyana is issuing a 3 month permit to Venezuelan migrants to regularize their situation, and have access to health and other benefits and basic services.
Mental distress caused by isolation, restrictions of movements and socioeconomic difficulties were also noted to be on the rise.
On 5 December the Health Ministry sets protocols for Guyana Suriname border areas.
From this rapidly increasing figure, an estimated 17,000 settled in Aruba, 17,000 in Curaçao, 114,500 in the Dominican Republic, 23,300 in Guyana and 24,000 in Trinidad and Tobago
In Guyana, since the influx of Venezuelans started in 2018, the already stretched school system has become saturated, with the added particularity that many Venezuelan refugee and migrant children in Guyana are indigenous.
REFUGEES AND MIGRANTS IN THE SUBREGION* 150,000
Half of the respondents indicated they had faced a change in income, owing mainly to job loss or reduced salary and businesses being affected by curfews and closures.
By the end of 2019, growing needs in the Caribbean sub region were identified as mainly access to territory, access to asylum and regularization, including alternative legal pathways.
In Guyana, sex workers, who were working in different remote mining areas that were affected by lock down measures, were forced to move to other areas to maintain livelihoods.
The pandemic represented a setback for some protection activities such as border monitoring and community based initiatives, which had to be scaled down. Conversely, Communications with Communities was stepped up. It rapidly adjusted to remote modalities and allowed key government communications to reach the general public, after messages were translated into Spanish. This kept the Venezuelan community informed of public advisories related to COVID 19. In Guyana, efforts were also made to reach Venezuelan indigenous communities with translations into Warao language.
While the Government implemented an immigration pathway allowing Venezuelans to legally stay in Guyana, permits do not allow for work rights, exposing refugees and migrants to exploitation and abuse.
In Guyana, Government led registration efforts of Venezuelans were conducted through a partner's innovative tool. The system, set up in February 2020, collects key data including biometric information from refugees and migrants, issuing a renewable entry permit valid for three months1. Although registration remains on hold since the outbreak of the pandemic, over 2,000 Venezuelan refugees and migrants were registered in 2020.
According to data compiled by the 2019 DTM5 surveys, 60 per cent of respondents were women in Guyana and Brazil, while in Chile and Trinidad and Tobago they were 42 per cent  ( Chaves González & Echeverría Estrada, 2020 ) .
Nevertheless, access by foreigners from other regions to the social security system is poorly regulated and extremely limited. A similar situation occurs in Guyana, where the Migration Law is extremely limited and does not establish the right to assistance or social protection.
Education is a fundamental right of every boy, girl, and adolescents without restrictions due to their migratory status or origin in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Panama, and Peru.
In other countries, limitations already begin with their legal status. This means that the migrant population cannot access public services if they only possess regular migratory status, such as in Peru, Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Upon reviewing migratory regulations, those that are identified as older maintain a perspective centered around national security and border control, as in Guyana  ( 1947 ) 40 and Chile  ( 1975 ) ,41 while more recent ones, such as the migration policies of Brazil, Ecuador,42 and Peru, who reformulated their laws in 2017, have a broader and more inclusive focus regarding guarantees of rights for these populations  ( Alonso et al., 2018 ) .
In other countries such as Chile and Guyana, close to 70 per cent of migrants hold a valid temporary visa  ( for tourism, students, among others ) , which guarantee their legal stay for a stipulated length of time and authorizes them or not to work or participate in professional programs  ( Chaves González & Echeverría Estrada, 2020 ) .
In relation to the international legal frameworks for refugees, only Guyana has not ratified these agreements. In this country, the UNHCR undertakes the registration and determination of refugee status due to the absence of national legislation and processes pertaining to asylum and refuge
In Guyana: The Ministry of Social Protection, along with UNICEF, grants a transfer in cash currency of USD 230, the Shock Responsive Cash Grant, directed at Venezuelan migrants and the host population. It covers 1,600 households, of which 90 per cent are migrants, and it is implemented primarily in Georgetown. The role of UNICEF is to grant financing and technical advice, as well as complementary services for delivering the cash at child protection centers, while the implementation and handing out are carried out by the Ministry of Social Protection.
Conflict has reduced in Al Hudaydah Governorate but hostilities have escalated in neighboring Hajjah Governorate especially in Hayran and Mustaba districts as well as near Haradh town, causing civilian casualties. Partners report that an estimated 300 families have recently been displaced to Abs District. Other IDPs are living in harsh conditions in Haradh town. Since June 2018, humanitarian partners have provided RRM assistance to 21,274 families  ( over 127,640 individuals )  out of 23,177 families  ( over 139,060 individuals )  displaced to Hajjah.
Disruption to commercial imports, inflation, lack of salary payment to civil servants and rising prices of basic commodities exacerbate people's vulnerability. Despite a difficult operating environment 242 international and national partners in January through October were actively coordinating to assist people with the most acute needs in priority districts across Yemen's 22 governorates. Together they have assisted over 7.8 million people monthly with some form of humanitarian assistance.
Yemen is the world's largest humanitarian crisis. Approximately 22.2 million people   75 per cent of the population   are in need of humanitarian assistance. A total of 17.8 million people are food insecure and 8.4 million people do not know how they will obtain their next meal. Conflict, protracted displacement, disease and deprivation continue to inflict suffering on the country's population.
estimated 17.8 million Yemenis are food insecure, with 8.4 million on the brink of starvation and will require emergency humanitarian assistance to stay alive. Needs are driven by the reduced levels of commercial imports, increased hostilities, displacement, disrupted incomes and livelihoods, and an alarming depreciation of the Yemeni Rial. The high price of fuel and diesel coupled with insecurity affects transportation and restricts movement of commodities, which in turn leads to increased prices of basic food commodities.
Against a backdrop of significant a necessity to prevent and control the spread of Cholera and Acute Watery Diarrhea  ( AWD )  and to prevent/reduce malnutrition, WASH needs are exacerbated by the hostilities in Al Hudaydah that caused a significant disruption in services as well as population displacement. Amidst this challenging environment, over 11 million people depend on the piped water network and 4 million people depend on the private water sector. Over 4 million people live in areas affected by Cholera/AWD. Breaks in public services provision due to insecurity impacted access and infrastructure and increased emergency WASH needs, especially for the populations in Al Hudaydah and surrounding governorates.
The humanitarian community faces several critical logistics challenges that hampers the delivery of relief items in and across the country. This includes: damaged road infrastructure; access disruptions to many parts of the country for staff and cargo; congestion at main entry points; unreliable and unpredictable access to fuel; substantial bureaucratic processes; and limited international shipping options by sea and air.
Registration of newly arrived asylum seekers resumed in northern Yemen in November 2019, after the suspension of all registration activities since August 2018. So far 138 individuals approached the Bureau for Refugee Affairs  ( BRA )  in Sana'a to claim asylum. On going coaching and guidance is provided daily by UNHCR to the BRA on registration matters and renewal of documentation for already recognised refugees holding expired documents. Awareness raising and sensitization sessions on the resumption of registration activities targeting refugees and asylum seekers to approach the BRA were carried out in October and November 2018, in order to encourage them to benefit from BRA services.
"These coming weeks are make or break for the conflict. We will either see a restart of the political track, or we will likely see a significant military escalation," said Adam Baron of the European Council for Foreign Relations.
Last year the Arab states attempted to capture Hodeidah, hoping to seize control of the country's main supply route and finally force the Houthis to their knees. But they failed in two attempts to capture the port, holding off from a full blown assault that could have caused mass starvation. With the Houthis still in control the city and the Arab forces dug in on the outskirts, they finally agreed a ceasefire at talks at a castle near Stockholm last month. The agreement also foresees a political track of talks to end the war. But a lack of progress could test the patience of the United Arab Emirates, which leads military operations on Yemen's Red Sea coast for the Saudi led coalition.
Among other things, the newly adopted resolution establishes what will be officially known as the UN Mission to support the Hodeidah Agreement  ( UNMHA ) . Last month, after UN brokered consultations in Sweden aimed at getting the warring sides together to end nearly four years of brutal civil war, the Houthi movement leadership and Yemeni Government representatives, signed the Hodeidah Agreement. The resolution sets out, for an initial six months, an increase from around 20 observers already in place to monitor the ceasefire, up to 75, positioned in and around the Red Sea port, where Yemen's receives most of its commercial goods and lifesaving aid.
Even as rival forces have traded accusations of hundreds of ceasefire breaches since the truce was announced on 18 December, developments outside of Hodeida continue to arouse concern. The coalition launched a blistering series of airstrikes in and around Sanaa overnight between 19 and 20 January, in apparent retaliation for Huthi drone and ballistic missile attacks on Yemeni government and coalition positions in Lahj and Taiz governorates, as well as Saudi Arabia's Asir province, over the previous days and weeks. The air war has been accompanied by heavy fighting at key frontlines: Buqa and Baqim on the Saudi Yemeni border, al Jawf, Nihm and Sirwa on the easternmost edge of the Huthi area of territorial control, around Taiz city, and in Damt district in al Dhalea governorate, along the old north south border.
Abdullah Ali Fadhel al Saadi  ( Yemen )  welcomed the resolution, saying it reaffirmed international support for Yemen's independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty, while stressing the need for a comprehensive and lasting peace that meets the aspirations of the Yemeni people. Emphasizing that his Government is fully committed to supporting implementation of the Agreement, he urged the Council and the international community to monitor ongoing ceasefire violations by the Houthi militia, supported by Iran, which have claimed 41 lives and injured 396 people. The Council must condemn such violations, he said, pointing to an attack last week on a Yemeni military base in which an Iranian drone was used. His Government looks forward to the special political mission in supporting the timely implementation of the Hodeidah Agreement.
No significant changes in the situation observed during the past two weeks except the sporadic exchange of fire reported in Kilo 7 in Al Hudaydah City near to the airport area as well as in the southern part of the governorate. There are very limited number of returnees reported in Al Hudaydah City. SNCC  ( Sub Na  tional Cluster Coordinator )  participated in the RCT  ( Regional Coordination Team )  meeting to discuss Al Hudaydah City returnee's response plan and other issues related to access and the overall humanitarian situation.
Partners reported huge needs for winterization support in locations that have very low temperatures during the winter months. Unconfirmed report indicated the death of two children due to the harsh cold temperatures. Limited funding deprived many people in need for this type of assistance. Family tents distribution completed by ADRA for 351 families in Dhamar governorate with stocks donated by DFID. The family tents reduced health and safety risks for the IDP families who already became more vulnerable during the winter season. During the reporting period, UNHCR through YRCS  ( Yemen Red Crescent Society )  distributed NFI kits to two IDP families / 16 Individuals recently displaced from Al Hudaydah in Amran governorate.
Yemen is classified as a low income, food deficit country, ranked 178th out of 189 countries, according to the 2018 Human Development Report. At least 50 percent of the population is estimated to be living in poverty, and more than 90 percent of food in Yemen is imported. Limited access to food is compounded by several factors, including the effects of low incomes, the depreciation of the Yemeni currency, large family sizes, high unemployment rates, and the irregular or non payment of salaries of many civil servants. Present in Yemen since 1967, WFP currently aims to save lives and protect livelihoods in emergencies, and specifically increase food consumption through the scaleup of life saving emergency food assistance  ( particularly the most food insecure population ) , as well as to expand coverage of nutrition interventions to prevent and treat moderate acute malnutrition  ( MAM ) .
On 13 December, the last day of the first intra Yemeni UN sponsored peace talks on Yemen, the parties to the conflict reached an agreement on the following: a ceasefire in Hudaydah governorate, including the three ports of Hudaydah, Saleef and Ras Issa; an executive mechanism on activating the prisoner exchange agreement and; a statement of understanding in Taiz. The ceasefire was implemented from 18 December and is politically holding. Meanwhile, throughout December both parties to the conflict have traded accusations of violating the ceasefire with clashes reported in and around Hudaydah governorate.
Yemen is classified as a low income, food deficit country, ranked 178th out of 189 countries, according to the 2018 Human Development Report. At least 50 percent of the population is estimated to be living in poverty, and more than 90 percent of food in Yemen is imported. Limited access to food is compounded by several factors, including the effects of low incomes, the depreciation of the Yemeni currency, uncertainty of access to Yemen's Red Sea ports, large family sizes, high unemployment rates, and the irregular or non payment of salaries of many civil servants.
Last month, WFP scaled up the delivery of food and food vouchers to around nine million people in Yemen, up from seven to eight million in November. The aim in coming weeks is to reach 12 million people to help avert famine in the country, which was already one of the poorest countries in the world before conflict escalated in March 2015.
“Any attack on a civilian site is unconscionable and a clear violation of international humanitarian law,' said Ms. Grande. “Parties to the conflict are obliged to do everything possible to protect civilians. The people who have fled their home to IDPs sites have lost so m uch already. An attack like this cannot be justified ever.'
Millions have fled their homes. Families are setting up makeshift homes wherever they can find available land – in the desert, in abandoned buildings, and on garbage dumps where they can forage for scraps.
The war will shortly enter its fourth year. It is a grim milestone for Yemenis, who face the worst humanitarian crisis in the world today. Yemen was already the poorest country in the Middle East when the conflict broke out in March 2015. A heart breaking 85,000 children are estimated to have since died from extreme hunger, and over 14 million people are thought to be facing starvation.
Yemen is facing a severe protection crisis, and civilians face serious risks to their safety, well being and basic rights. Tens of thousands of people have been killed or injured since 2015, and among them at least 17,700 civilians as verified by the UN. An estimated 3.3 million people remain displaced, up from 2.2 million last year. This includes 685,000 people who fled fighting in Al Hudaydah and on the west coast from June onwards. Escalating conflict is causing extensive damage to public and civilian infrastructure.
Most people assisted by RRM partners are displaced within Al Hudaydah Governorate. Even before the recent escalation of conflict, needs across the governorate were significant with 60 per cent of the population requiring humanitarian assistance. Findings of the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification  ( IPC )  published on 7 December show that 17 out of the 26 districts in the Governorate are in an emergency food security situation.
A total of 17.8 million people lack access to safe water and sanitation, and 19.7 million people lack access to adequate healthcare. Poor sanitation and waterborne diseases, including cholera, left hundreds of thousands of people ill last year. In sum, needs have intensified across all sectors. Millions of Yemenis are hungrier, sicker and more vulnerable than a year ago, pushing an ever greater number of people into reliance on humanitarian assistance. Humanitarian response is increasingly becoming the only lifeline for millions of Yemenis.
In anticipation of the situation stabilizing in Al Hudaydah City, IOM is establishing three centers to register people who may return home. At least 57,000 displaced families  ( about 342,000 people )  are projected to return to the city, if the situation improves. Partners have agreed on a response package for the potential returnees including a RRM kit, food, shelter and non food items  ( NFIs )
Conflict has reduced in Al Hudaydah Governorate but hostilities have escalated in neighbouring Hajjah Governorate especially in Hayran and Mustaba districts as well as near Haradh town, causing civilian casualties. Partners report that an estimated 300 families have recently been displaced to Abs District. Other IDPs are living in harsh conditions in Haradh town. Since June 2018, humanitarian partners have provided RRM assistance to 21,274 families  ( over 127,640 individuals )  out of 23,177 families  ( over 139,060 individuals )  displaced to Hajjah.
More than 20 million people across the country are food insecure, including nearly 10 million who are suffering from extreme levels of hunger. For the first time, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification  ( IPC )  has confirmed pockets of catastrophic hunger in some locations, with 238,000 people affected. An estimated 7.4 million people require services to treat or prevent malnutrition, including 3.2 million people who require treatment for acute malnutrition – 2 million children under 5 and more than one million pregnant and lactating women  ( PLW ) .
As a result of conflict, as many as 4.3 million people have been displaced in the last three years, including approximately 3.3 million people who remain displaced and 1 million returnees. In 2018, an estimated 685,000 people fled the intensive conflict in 2018 mainly from Al Hudaydah Governorate, where conflict escalated significantly in June 2018. An estimated 26 per cent of most vulnerable IDPs are living in hosting sites including public buildings, collective centres, or dispersed spontaneous settlements.
Agricultural production is a critical livelihood and source of income for rural households in Yemen, of whom 95 percent undertake at least some form of agricultural activities. Yet, regular agricultural and food production activity has come to a standstill. While imports satisfy most of Yemen's food needs, domestic food production accounts for 25 percent of the food consumed in the country.
According to a post harvest assessment, production rates show a considerable decrease by approximately 30 percent, thus distressing all agricultural sub‑sectors. People are resorting to growing what they can in their backyard gardens. Daily protein intake has also taken a hit due to reports of underfed and weak livestock. Lack of animal health services in addition to scarce and costly medicine and feed continues to be a grave issue.
• Nearly 80 percent of Yemen's population requires humanitarian assistance • Number of people in acute need of assistance increases by 30 percent
The HNO identifies approximately 24.1 million people nearly 80 percent of Yemen's population who will require humanitarian assistance in 2019, including an estimated 14.3 million people who are in acute need of assistance, a nearly 30 percent increase from the 11.3 million people in acute need in 2018. The number of people in need of assistance represents a nearly 10 percent increase compared to 2018. Agriculture and food security, health, protection, and water, sanitation, and hygiene  ( WASH )  remain the priority areas of need in 2019.
The 2019 HNO identifies more than 3.3 million internally displaced persons  ( IDPs )  in Yemen, more than half of whom are living in Amanat Al Asimah, Hajjah, Al Hudaydah, Ta'izz, and Sa'dah governorates. In addition, the HNO identifies more than 685,000 people newly displaced in 2018, including people displaced by fighting in Al Hudaydah. Nearly 75 percent of IDPs in Yemen live outside of formal camps, further challenging their ability to access essential services, including food assistance, health care, and protection services.
More than 20 million people require emergency food assistance in Yemen, representing a more than 10 percent increase from the 17.8 million people in need of food assistance in 2018. Food insecurity is most severe in Amran, Hajjah, Al Hudaydah, Ta'izz, and Sa'dah, the UN reports.
Due to ongoing conflict, Yemen hosts the largest food security emergency in the world. Nearly 16 million people approximately 53 percent of Yemen's population face Crisis  ( IPC 3 )  or worse conditions countrywide, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification  ( IPC ) .* An end to the conflict is the only solution to the root issues driving food insecurity in Yemen, according to international relief actors.
Yemen is facing one of the world's worst Water, Sanitation and Hygiene  ( WASH )  crises, as deteriorating WASH infrastructure contributes to a cholera outbreak, and represents one of the underlying causes of malnutrition in the country. On behalf of the Yemen WASH Cluster, REACH coordinated a household level assessment to provide an understanding of WASH needs, gaps, and priorities in 38 districts prioritized for famine and/or cholera interventions that also host a high concentration of Internally Displaced People  ( IDPs   8% or more of the total district population ) .
As of December, the IPC identified more than 63,000 people experiencing Catastrophe  ( IPC 5 )  conditions across 25 districts in eight of Yemen's 22 governorates. Food insecurity is most severe in areas with active fighting and is particularly affecting internally displaced persons, host families, marginalized groups and landless wage laborers who have limited ability to work and lack access to basic services.
Payments of public sector salaries and pensions have been erratic as reserves have dwindled, disrupting incomes for more than a quarter of the population. Government support – including social safety nets for the most vulnerable families – has largely collapsed. Remittances from abroad have significantly reduced, partly due to restrictions imposed on transfers to Yemeni banks.
Currently, the people of Yemen are more vulnerable and hungrier than at any time since the escalation of the conflict in March 2015. Overall, 230 out Yemen's 333 districts are at risk of famine. An estimated 18.5 million people live in these districts, including 7.1 million who need life saving food and livelihoods assistance, 6.6 million who need WASH support and nearly 8 million who need healthcare. With two thirds of the population food insecure, Yemen is the world's largest food security crisis.
Landmines and ERWs continue to pose a serious risk to millions of people in 19 governorates especially in areas of active conflict. Mine Action partners were particularly active in districts with high intensity military operations, such as in Al Hudaydah, Taizz, Hajjah, Sa'ada and Sana'a governorates. The threat posed by landmines and ERWs is increasing in socalled stabilized locations, where land becomes accessible due to a decrease in or an end to hostilities, in areas such as: Amanat Al Asimah, Dhamar, Aden, Ibb and Hadramaut governorates.
Remittances from abroad have significantly reduced, partly due to restrictions imposed on transfers to Yemeni banks.
The conflict has caused widespread disruption of economic activities and has dramatically diminished employment and income opportunities in the private and public sectors. The economy has contracted by nearly 50 per cent over the last three years. Cumulative losses in real GDP are estimated at $49.9 billion3 , and inflation is estimated to have accelerated to over 40 percent.4 Poverty rates have dramatically increased, with an estimated 81 per cent of Yemenis now below the poverty line – an increase of one third since 2014.5
UN agencies and NGOs operating in Al Hudaydah Governorate scaled up the delivery of assistance to people affected by the fighting, even though access to humanitarian facilities and the people in need remains a challenge. Humanitarian warehouses, including the Red Sea Mills, where enough food is stored to feed 3.5 million people for a month, remains inaccessible. Other key humanitarian facilities that remain closed include UNHCR, WFP and WHO warehouses, as well as the 22 May Hospital.
Severe exchange rate fluctuations further undermined the Yemeni economy, which relies heavily on imports denominated in US dollars, and drastically undermined households' purchasing power. Between August and October 2018, the rial lost nearly 65 per cent of its value against the US dollar when compared to a year before.6 With nearly all commodities imported, prices soared. In the last year, the cost of a food basket increased by 60 per cent, and average food prices are now 150 per cent higher than before the conflict. Despite some recovery towards the end of the year, exchange rates remain volatile. Because traders imported food at much higher costs in recent months, prices in many markets – especially in remote areas most at risk – are yet to come down.
*Lower import levels reflect a lack of shipping confidence due to heavy restrictions and poor port infrastructure. Commercial vessels carrying containerized cargo are no longer serving Al Hudaydah port; only one such vessel has entered Al Hudaydah since November 2017. Insurance and banking hurdles, bureaucratic measures at ports, security risks and high transport costs are other key factors. In September 2018, the Government of Yemen adopted Decree 75 which requires that companies finance imports of six core commodities through the Central Bank. Extensive delays were reported in processing the line of credit imposed through the decree. Although the decree has been lifted for food commodities, it remains in place for fuel.
Before the escalation of the crisis, Yemen imported about 90 per cent of its staple food and required an estimated 544,000 metric tons of imported fuel per month.14 Keeping all ports open and operational is essential to efforts to prevent famine. Most food imports enter the country through Al Hudaydah and Saleef ports. Although imports increased via these ports after the Coalition lifted its temporary blockade in late 2017, monthly volumes have remained below pre blockade levels. In the twelve months after the blockade was lifted  ( December 2017 to November 2018 ) , more than 3.2 million tons of food were imported through Al Hudaydah and Saleef ports – or about 20 per cent less than was imported in the twelve months before the temporary blockade  ( November 2016 to October 2017 ) . Congestion at Aden port is also causing substantial delays to the imports process.
"The main humanitarian needs of the displaced population are medical care, water, shelter, food, and relief items. Medical care, clean water, and sanitation services are urgently needed, given that the country is suffering an increase in cholera cases. MSF has one cholera treatment center in Abs and is setting up another one for displaced people and the local population.
The deteriorating humanitarian situation has resulted in 104 districts registering the highest needs severity scores  ( 5 and 6 )  across multiple sectors, including the 45 districts in which IPC Phase 5  ( Catastrophe )  is reported. All but one of the 104 districts are classified as IPC 4 Phase  ( Emergency ) . On average 44 per cent of the acute PiN across all clusters are located in these districts. Furthermore, an estimated 52 per cent of IDPs reside in these areas, and 64 of the districts are cholera priority districts  ( areas where there is a very high prevalence of cholera ) .
According to WFP, the retail price of food commodities decreased by between 3 and 9 per cent in November 2018, compared with the previous month but were 66 162 per cent higher than the precrisis period, before March 2015. The national average price of petrol and diesel decreased by between 5 and 8 per cent between October and November 2018 but were still between 202 and 232 per cent higher than the price before the crisis. The price of cooking gas increased by 13 per cent between October and November 2018 but remained 168 per cent higher than in the pre crisis period.
An estimated 26 per cent of IDPs are living in hosting sites including public buildings, collective centres, or dispersed spontaneous settlements. Services at these locations are often limited, and residents face significant protection risks, including exploitation, harassment and gender based violence  ( GBV ) .
Escalated conflict in Yemen's Hajjah Governorate continues to result in civilian casualties and population displacement. Clashes from March 9–10 resulted in at least 22 civilian deaths and injured 30 people in the governorate, according to the UN. Additionally, the number of internally displaced persons  ( IDPs )  in Hajjah increased from nearly 203,000 people to approximately 420,000 people between October 2018 and March 2019, the UN reports. While humanitarian organizations have scaled up response activities to meet the needs of displaced and conflict affected populations, Hajjah's Haradh, Hayran, and Midi districts remain inaccessible due to insecurity.
On Sunday 7 April, shortly before midday, an airstrike hit an hangar in Sana'a, Shuaub district, damaging civilian houses and a neighbouring school. Eleven civilians, including female students, have reportedly been killed, and a further 42 injured.
From October 2017 to September 2018, the Country level Task Force on the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism  ( MRM )  verified and documented 2,367 victims of grave child rights violations  ( 1,852 boys, 512 girls, 3 children of unknown sex )  – an increase of 23 per cent from the previous year. This includes 1,843 cases of killing and maiming  ( 1,346 boys, 494 girls, 3 children of unknown sex )  – an increase of 51 per cent since 2017. From October 2016 – September 2017 there were 1,926 victims of grave child rights violations  ( 1,577 boys and 349 girls ) .