Publication

OCHAYemen: Yemen Humanitarian Update: Issue 9

31 October 2023

HIGHLIGHTS

Bracing for Winter:

Aid Agencies Step up Winterisation Preparedness Efforts P 01

YHF: Supporting vital economic opportunities P 02

Championing Women’s Health: Dr. Sawsan’s Story of Courage P 04

Yemen’s Silent Crisis:

Battling Mental Health Amidst Conflict P 05

Yemeni farmers’ efforts for sustainable agriculture P 07

BRACING FOR WINTER: AID AGENCIES STEP UP WINTERISATION PREPAREDNESS EFFORTS

Partners have started working to protect vulnerable communities from the looming winter season.

Following the heavy rains and flooding this year, winter will bring bitter cold and harsh conditions to much of Yemen.

Colder than most of the Arab world due to its elevation, Yemen’s highlands face temperatures that can dip below freezing (0 °C) in the winter months between November and February.

Winter brings a new series of challenges. Households residing in certain districts of Sana’a, Amran, Dhamar, Ibb, Al Bayda, Amanat Al Asimah, Ad Dale’, Sa’dah, and Marib governorates face the highest risk of severe winter weather. Years of immense hardships—conflict and economic crisis, increased cost of living, and loss of livelihoods—will further compound winter’s challenges.

This winter season, it is estimated that extreme weather conditions will affect over 900,000 individuals (134,000 households) in 68 districts across 12 governorates over the next four months, including internally displaced people (IDPs), returnees, and host communities.

IDPs will be particularly exposed to winter’s shocks.

In response to the anticipated winterrelated needs, the Shelter Cluster and partners are stepping up efforts to provide essential winterisation support and ensure that communities, particularly those in high-risk cold areas, have the aid and services required to stay warm and safe.

Immediate shelter assistance is a key component of the winterisation efforts.

This includes replacing damaged shelters, providing repair materials and tools, and distributing emergency shelter kits for those residing in open spaces.

As part of the Cluster’s winterisation programming, partners are also preparing assistance packages tailored to the needs of the most affected households.

The package was designed based on community feedback and includes highthermal blankets and winter clothing.

The assistance offers crucial warmth and protection against harsh cold