HIGHLIGHTS
Humanitarian access improves, despite delays due to insecurity and bureaucratic restrictions
The UN condemns violence against civilians following a recent attack on civilian infrastructure
UNVIM commences operations for Yemen response
KEY DEVELOPMENTS
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) report that conflict in Yemen has internally displaced an estimated 2.4 million people as of January 31. This represents a 4 percent decrease from the estimate of 2.5 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) reported in late 2015; IOM and UNHCR attribute this decrease to some IDP returns to southern Yemen, as well as improved tracking methodology.
Relief organizations estimate that 75 percent of Yemen’s 333 districts face relatively low humanitarian access constraints, and only 7 percent are severely constrained, according to the recently launched 2016 Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP). The most serious access constraints persist in front-line areas in Al Bayda’, Marib, and Tai’zz governorates, as well as areas of Hajjah and Sa’dah governorates that border Saudi Arabia and regularly experience heavy airstrikes and cross-border shelling. Despite access improvements, humanitarian needs continue to outpace the ability of relief agencies to provide aid to the approximately 21.2 million people requiring humanitarian assistance, according to the HRP.
Humanitarian organizations—including U.S. Government (USG) implementing partners—are scaling up relief operations and providing food supplies, health services, and other relief assistance to conflict-affected populations throughout Yemen and neighboring countries.