Issue 61

The humanitarian situation in Yemen

April 25, 2014
Humanitarian Practice Network
Distribution of identity cards by Oxfam staff in Al Hodeidah governorate, Yemen
138 min read

The theme of the 61st edition of Humanitarian Exchange is the humanitarian situation in Yemen. Despite a political transition process, conflict between state and non-state armed actors has exacerbated the country’s long-standing humanitarian challenges and restricted access to people in need.

  • In the lead article, co-editor Steven A. Zyck, emphasises the importance of maintaining a clearly delineated space for apolitical humanitarian efforts. He briefly outlines the different ongoing conflicts, illustrated in this infographic.
  • Ismail Ould Cheick Ahmed and Trond Jensen stress the need to find new partners and support long-term development, resilience and capacity-building. They highlight the humanitarian needs in Yemen and the water and food shortages, as seen in this infographic
  • Michael Neuman reports on a study of attacks against Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) programmes in Yemen, which revealed the underlying cause to be the poor quality of relationships between patients and medical staff.
  • Dr. Abdelhadi Eltahir, Nathaly Spilotros and Kate Hesel demonstrate that sensitive family planning and post-abortion care services have been accepted and used by Yemeni communities if they are good-quality and appropriate.
  • Brian Wittbold describes the International Organisation for Migration (IOM)’s work in areas controlled by armed non-state actors
  • Anna Stein looks at the protection risks faced by migrants from the Horn of Africa moving to or transiting through Yemen.
  • Helen McElhinney makes the case for the UK government’s move to multi-year humanitarian funding in Yemen
  • Leah Campbell reflects on the challenges of inter-cluster coordination in Yemen.

Articles in the Practice and Policy Notes section examine:

  • European donor financing policies and procedures
  • the link between accountability mechanisms and programme quality
  • the evidence base for civil–military policy decisions
  • the details of negotiated humanitarian access arrangements in Southern Afghanistan;
  • the use of Emergency Market Mapping and Analysis (EMMA) to improve water and sanitation programming in the Horn of Africa.
  • Using Haiti as an example, the issue ends with an article questioning whether the humanitarian cluster system is agile enough to enable plans to be adapted as situations change.

Issue 61 articles