I did not have any assistance. When I arrived in Yemen, I was sleeping on the sidewalk – frightened, starving and ill,” recalled Bilal Muhammad, an 18-year-old Ethiopian migrant who recently found himself stranded in the country.  Bilal is one of thousands of migrants whose dream of a new life opportunity in nearby Gulf countries was shattered by the conflict and COVID-19-related movement restrictions. He has become, along with 32,000 others, stranded in Yemen, living in extreme dire conditions.  Despite his young age, Bilal left his mother and three brothers back home in Ethiopia and decided to embark on the perilous route to Yemen, in a hope to find a good income source in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that would allow him to provide a better life for his family.  I travelled from Ethiopia to Djibouti, then crossed Yemen’s sea to Shabwah’s coast, moved to Aden governorate, then travelled on foot to Sa’dah governorate,” he said.  With the recent loosening of restrictions on international movements, migrant arrivals into Yemen have started to show a slow increase, although the overall numbers remain low compared to pre-pandemic years.   The International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that in 2019 over 138,000 migrants arrived in Yemen, while just over 37,500 came in 2020. Thus far in 2021, the Organization has recorded more than 11,500 migrant arrivals to the country.  Migrants who manage to arrive in Yemen continue to face significant barriers in accessing the humanitarian services and employment necessary to survive. The pandemic and persistent conflict have pushed them further into the shadows and left them reliant on smuggling networks to get by.  Most migrants who come from the Horn of Africa arrive to Yemen’s western coast – somewhere between Hajjah and Shabwah – before they attempt to make their way onward.   The smugglers then provide transportation to those migrants who can afford the journey, taking them to Aden. Migrants who do not have money usually travel for weeks on foot to reach the same destination.   Eager to cross the borders to KSA , they then take an extremely dangerous trip from Aden to Sa’dah. On the way, many migrants find themselves caught up amid armed clashes.  While on this same route trying to cross the border in Sa’dah, Bilal was attacked and suffered  multiple injuries to his head and partial loss of consciousness.  In the same violent incident, Yaseen Omar, a 27-year-old Ethiopian migrant who was travelling with Bilal to KSA, was also assaulted in Sa’dah.   He lost a lot of blood and fell unconscious after receiving multiple gunshots in his abdomen and pelvis. Yaseen was in desperate need of surgery to stop the internal bleeding.  Both Bilal and Yaseen were in life-threatening health conditions and needed to be transferred to Sana’a for advanced health care.  IOM collaborates with the Government of Germany to provide emergency and essential health services to vulnerable migrants in Yemen, including medicine and medical supplies. The Organization also refers moderate and severe medical cases to hospitals for further care.  When some of the Ethiopian community members brought Bilal to the IOM clinic in Sana’a, he was disorientated, agitated and dehydrated,” explained Dr. Raidan Al-Dahmashi, who is part of IOM’s Migration Health team in Sana’a.  We knew that he had to be referred immediately for urgent medical care,” he added.  Likewise, the IOM Migration Health team referred Yaseen for higher care as soon as the Ethiopian community brought him to IOM’s clinic in Sana’a due to his severe condition.  Bilal was admitted to Al Jomhori Hospital for intensive care, but it was more complicated for Yaseen, who was barely conscious and suffering from multiple pelvic fractures when he arrived at the hospital.   He was referred to the Emergency Department of another public hospital, Al-Thawra hospital, for better diagnosis, and later to a private hospital, Al-Ahli Modern hospital, where he underwent two significant operations and remained under intensive care for a month.  IOM supported both Bilal and Yaseen, who spent time in the intensive care unit, under close observation from medical staff and receiving medication, nutrition and mental health support for about a month.  After their recovery, they were sent to stay with a foster family, through IOM’s Foster Family Programme, who provided them with a safe place to live while they received further care and proper nutrition.   Now, Bilal and Yaseen wish to go back to their families and have registered to voluntarily return home through IOM’s Voluntary Humanitarian Return programme.  The Organization saved me and restored my hope that I will return  to my country, my family and my friends,” said Bilal, feeling relieved that he regained his health.  IOM, with funding from the German Government,  provided nearly 3,000 migrants with medical consultations, 3,700 health awareness sessions and 300 hospital referrals between January and May 2021.    Written by Mennatallah Homaid, IOM Yemen Communication Assistant 

Yemenis have lost confidence in the formal justice system and instead often rely on trusted local leaders. In 2017, the Yemeni government, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the governments of the Netherlands and the United States, and the United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office, established the Enhanced Security and Protection at the Local Level in Yemen Project. In the wake of steadily weakening social ties in Yemeni society, the project aims to improve access to formal and informal justice and security services across Yemen — at the individual, community, and institutional level. The project strives to increase access to justice while improving the capacities of justice and security institutions to deliver quality services that respond to public demand. One component of this project is reflected in UNDP’s partnership with Search for Common Ground (SFCG). UNDP and SFCG provided training to 115 trusted local actors (including 40 women) in conflict scanning and community dialogue. These ‘Insider Mediators’ are respected members of the community committed to peacebuilding. UNDP and SFCG empower the Insider Mediators work to facilitate non-violent resolutions between groups — within a family or community, and through professional dialogue — and connect community members to judicial and security services when appropriate. By acting as a neutral party, the Insider Mediators help to restore community ties and encourage inclusive peacebuilding processes, supporting the establishment of a solid foundation for the nation’s recovery from conflict. These are the words of five Insider Mediators. Economic Difficulties at the Root of Increased Conflict “Since the economy crashed in Yemen, we are seeing more problems arise within the community,” explains Ahmed, a young Insider Mediator. “One of the most common problems here is land disputes,” he continues. “There are many vacant lots of land. People often come and seize them or claim them as their own, then they try to sell them.” With fewer opportunities to find stable work, many Yemenis are forced to survive with less financial resources and may take more desperate measures to provide basic amenities for their loved ones. Noor, one of the women to successfully complete Insider Mediator training, is the head of a local society and now a prominent and trusted figure among mediators and local authorities. She notes, “most of the problems we are seeing in Yemeni society today have their roots in economic hardship.” An inability to buy food or afford medicine and healthcare often leads to heightened stress and more frequent arguments in the home. But Noor is optimistic: “I love being a mediator because we are able to bring people together. I remind people that we are stronger if we support one another.” Ahmed, who completed his studies in social services, understands well the importance of community leaders in resolving neighbourhood quarrels. “I have successfully resolved land disputes thanks to the support and leadership of the local Imam and community leaders,” he says. “These leaders are respected.” What can we Achieve with Informal Justice? Nasser, another Insider Mediator, works in the security sector. With key insights from his daily work, Nasser understands firsthand why it is critical for Insider Mediators to intervene before an argument escalates into a violent dispute. “I receive referrals due to my job in security,” explains Nasser, proudly recounting his experiences. “I was called out to a case following reports that four armed men were trying to force their way into a hotel,” he explains. “I discovered the problem was due to a dispute between two families and was able to resolve it before it escalated to any violence or required police intervention.” For Wael, a school principal, informal justice also plays a critical role in enabling the continuation of basic services. “When I joined as the principal at my school, I had an issue with the absenteeism of teachers,” he said. With over 1,100 students to educate, the absent teachers were depriving young Yemenis of vital skills needed to ensure opportunities for a successful future. “I used my training as a mediator to work with the teachers and the Ministry of Education to get the teachers back into the classrooms. We were able to negotiate for most of the teachers to return to work.” Getting the Word Out Among the five Insider Mediators we spoke with, most rely on word-of-mouth for referrals, but many rely on their existing recognition within the community. For Mohammed, a lawyer of 25 years and mediator for five, the closing of his legal office — a place where people knew they could find him — forced him to be innovative. “I use Facebook to promote my services as a mediator,” he says. “I receive cases online including land disputes, debt payment, disagreements between families and tribes, and inheritance disputes.” The Insider Mediators are well respected in their communities and regularly liaise with local religious and tribal leaders or formal authorities to resolve cases peacefully. “As a former consultant to the local authorities, I used to be called for cases because they wanted me to settle disputes before things turned violent,” explains Mohammed. The Insider Mediators are part of a strong network and often refer cases to one another. “I cannot always take certain sensitive cases,” explains Noor. “So, I refer people to Mohammed for disputes requiring legal recourse due to his years of experience.” A Toolbox for Formal Justice Actors Understanding that the formal justice system still has a critical role to play within the community, UNDP has provided formal training and capacity building for over 1,000 personnel from rule of law institutions, including judges, prosecutors, police, and prison officials. UNDP also supports the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda in Yemen, training 40 women police officers in Aden and 40 officers of the Civil Defence Authority in Sana’a with support from the government of the Netherlands. This WPS work will continue thanks to a new agreement with the Yemen Women’s Union (YWU), and support from the Republic of Korea. Building on initial successes, the YWU will help strengthen cooperation between women police officers and institutions that can provide targeted care for women, children, and families. At the same time, more advanced training on survivor-centred justice will continue. The Enhanced Security and Protection at the Local Level in Yemen project aims to improve the quality of justice and security services thereby fostering public trust and confidence across all levels of Yemeni society. At the individual level, the project provides legal support to disadvantaged people, including the marginalised and prison detainees. At the community level, it helps stakeholders identify the issues and challenges that are most important to them and work with local justice institutions to actively address their priorities. At the institutional level, the project assists authorities to improve justice and policing services, such as through community-oriented policing.

Children are particularly affected by increasing rates of malnutrition, and women, particularly pregnant and new mothers, have limited or no access to reproductive health services.  According to the World Health Organization[1], only 51 per cent of health facilities in Yemen are fully functional, but often they cannot provide adequate care. In Al Batarya, in Hajjah governorate, the community is living alongside Yemenis displaced from neighbouring districts. Fleeing from violent conflict, their property destroyed, many families have been left with no shelter, food, or even regular access to sanitation and water. Malnutrition looms over younger generations, with families barely able to afford food due to skyrocketing prices.  According to the Social Fund for Development, in 2019 the number of residents in Al Batarya exceeded 7,000. This a community with only one healthcare facility.  “In mid-2020, I could barely find time to drink water. Everyone was in pain and dozens of patients were lined up - either in the waiting room or outside the unit. It was unbelievable...I have not seen such a need in any rural health facility during the past years,” says Ibrahim, an assistant doctor working in Al-Radha health facility. The only health facility in Al Batarya, this small building plays a key role in treating illnesses associated with severe food insecurity. But the influx of displaced people has led to overcrowding, as well as shortages in medicine and vaccines. As the conflict continued and displacement only increased, residents were in dire need of better access to health services. Except the next closest health facility is 20km from Al Batarya, or a 20,000 YR taxi ride, and for patients who can hardly afford food, this is an impossible fee.  This leaves most residents with no other choice but to wait long hours for treatment, hoping to see a doctor and a prescription to relieve the pain.  Thankfully, with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Social Fund for Development (SFD) has helped established a sub-district committee (SDC) in Al Batarya. The SDC was responsible for identifying the needs of their community and developing an action plan accordingly.  Undoubtedly, women SDC members have played a leading role in amplifying the voice of rural women and highlighting the urgent need for reproductive health services, including family planning, antenatal and postnatal care, safe delivery, and care for infants and newborns who suffer most commonly from malnutrition. In early 2020, SFD announced the delivery of a financial grant of US$ 20,000 and the contribution of 2,000 bricks (equivalent to US$ 4,000) to build three additional rooms over a four-month period. “After the expansion of the health facility, we are receiving at least 70-80 cases per day,” exclaims Dr. Ibrahim. This is a daily increase of almost 30 patients, who now receive care thanks to the support of three new volunteers trained in midwifery. The health facility now provides reproductive health services, child vaccinations, malnutrition treatment and basic first aid to 3,015 families, including 1,191 displaced families.   "The construction of the new extension has greatly contributed to the decreased suffering of displaced and host community members. It saves us the trouble of going to Abs General Hospital and other faraway health centres," Adnan Makin, a resident of Al-Radha village says. The situation in Al Batarya is just a snapshot the struggle experienced in Abs district, which has witnessed a high rate of displacement due to the conflict, becoming classified as a district with notably high rates of food insecurity – including 78,811 malnourishment cases[2]. Thanks to UNDP’s successful partnership with the European Union (EU) & the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), our local partner, SFD, has been able to enhance the delivery of critical health services by establishing community compact initiatives and implementing small-scale projects that improve health infrastructure in rural Yemen.  A total of US$ 160,000 was invested to build extensions for four health facilities in four vulnerable sub-districts of Abs, in addition to construction of a healthcare unit for fever treatment In Abs General Hospital. Approximately, 35,000 thousand people will benefit from these interventions. -- These activities were implemented as a part of the Supporting Resilient Livelihoods and Food Security in Yemen Joint Programme (ERRYJP II). The Programme aims to strengthen the resilience capacity of crisis-affected communities through the creation of sustainable livelihoods and access to basic services.    [1] https://www.who.int/initiatives/herams [2] According to Multi-cluster famine risk reduction data from 2019

In Yemen, the on-going violent conflict has threatened lives and livelihoods in more ways than one. But even in the quiet days, a lack of resources for water and sanitation institutions threatens to create widespread dengue, malaria, typhoid disease epidemics. UNDP’s Crisis Support for Solid Waste, Water Supply and Sewage Institutions in Aden and Mukalla Cities Project aims to help the water and cleaning management institutions to improve the delivery of essential services, scale up their efficiency and fight off avoidable diseases. The relative stability experienced in Aden Governorate and the city of Mukalla in Hadramout has attracted tens of thousands of internally displaced people (IDPs). But the influx of people has increased pressure on already struggling and stretched institutions, particularly the Cleaning and Improvement Funds and the Water Corporations. Unable to fully fulfill their intended roles, the institutions make do with aged equipment, limited supplies, and a lack of technical capacity. However, with increased trash in the streets and decreased access to clean water, the city streets in Aden and Mukalla had become less safe, and the risk of disease and injury more probable. In 2019, the UNDP’s Assessing the Impact of War in Yemen on Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals highlighted the grave developmental loses amassed by Yemen’s conflict, with more than two decades of development reversed in infrastructure, institutional and technical capacities. This included the destruction or degradation of formal institutions like the Cleaning Funds and Water Corporations in Aden and Mukalla. So the Government of Japan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have stepped in to preserve, restore, and build critical infrastructure and support vital government and public institutions in these areas. Through the Crisis Support for Solid Waste, Water Supply and Sewage Institutions project, the populations of the major port cities will benefit from better access to drinking water and solid waste management with the delivery of drinking water pumps, sewer water pumps, garbage trucks and better staff knowledge and skills. Through this project, UNDP provided the two cities with 25 new garbage trucks and are working to fix and re-operationalize 25 existing trucks to enable both cities to have a 25 truck fully functioning fleet. In addition, 50 garbage containers, office furniture, ICT equipment, 11 submersible electric pumps and accessories, 12 engines and cables to run bore holes, and many other critically required items were provided. Local experts have also provided tailored capacity building programmes to enhance the efficiency of local service providers and save them the costs required for third-party maintenance. This will ensure the longevity of new waste collection fleets by encouraging in-house preventive maintenance using new workshop equipment. Management and administration training will also help these local institutions to develop clear plans for reform and revision of services. This includes tariff collection to ensure sustainable revenue, and the development of clear job descriptions and new Human Resources rules and systems that will encourage staff to remain motivated and succeed together. When coupled with better fleet management – including Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and devices to keep records, locate and better manage assets – the local cleaning funds stand in a much stronger position to keep their community’s streets safe and clean. The project also critically engages the community, educating them on the collaborative nature of waste management – starting from the bottom-up. To achieve this, the project worked with local authorities to establish committees made up of community leaders and social figures, and trained them on how to communicate the community’s responsibility to keep streets clean. Japan has long been dedicated to supporting Yemen’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector with support dating back several decades. The Cleaning Fund in Aden is still using machinery and vehicles provided by Japan in the 1990s and the Al Mansoura pumping station is using the 1980’s era sewer pumps provided by Japan, which will be fixed in this project.  UNDP’s Crisis Support for Solid Waste, Water Supply and Sewage Institutions in Aden and Mukalla Cities Project focuses on local capacity building and the rehabilitation of infrastructure to reduce water-related diseases; contribute to a stronger economy by increasing productivity; and, contribute to stability by allowing communities to enjoy the benefits of peace. Support includes the rehabilitation of facilities, maintenance of vehicles, replacement of malfunctioning sewerage pumps, provision of essential office furniture, training of staff and development of financial plans.