Situation Update
On the horizon, there are glimmers of light, but in the valley, it is still the deepest night. This is how one could describe the current situation in Yemen. A 6-month ceasefire from April to October last year and peace talks between the Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia mediated by Oman in the spring of 2023 provide hope for peace. But among the Yemeni population, the hardships continue. Even though the number of people killed in conflicts fell by 60 %, there was immeasurable suffering due to the consequences of the war years. In the last year, the number of people killed or maimed by unexploded bombs or mines increased.
The war itself is no longer the greatest problem for the inhabitants. Indirect consequences such as the displacement of 4.5 million people within the country are far worse. Other consequences include the destruction of the health system; non-payment of civil servants' salaries; floodings; the cholera epidemic; the naval blockade; restricted freedom of speech, expression and religion; and finally the world's greatest famine.
Out of a population of 34.5 million, 27.9 million (more than 80 %) are suffering from miserable living conditions, and 21.6 million are in acute need. The famine particularly affects those parts of the population that are already suffering the most under the catastrophe: children, the elderly and IDPs (internally displaced persons). About 2.2 million children under the age of 5 suffer from malnutrition and more than 500,000 of them are severely malnourished, which means that death by starvation cannot be ruled out in the near future. Behind each of these numbers are tragic individual fates of people who are struggling to survive, even in this time of peace talks.
Project Implementation
In the face of the huge continuing need, Anugerah continued to help the needy in the year 2022. In 10 of Yemen's 22 governorates, Anugerah helped IDPs, persons in need of protection, families of marginalised minorities such as the Achdam, widows, orphans, elderly persons, children and infants, disabled persons and chronically ill persons. This was done through food parcels, drinking water supply, emergency medical aid, emergency shelters for IDPs and orphans, and opportunities for schooling and further education. These projects were possible only due to the self-sacrificing commitment of local forces who worked selflessly despite difficult and threatening circumstances on site.
a) Supply of Food and Drinking Water
With more than 150,000 recipients of food and drinking water supplies, this area is clearly the largest of Anugerah's assistance in Yemen. As described above, hunger is the biggest threat in Yemen and affects the majority of the population. In 10 of the 22 governorates, local teams carry out regular food distributions. In doing so, they make sure that the neediest families receive sufficient aid.
In addition to food, the supply of clean drinking water is essential. Due to the war, many Yemenis have lost their access to potable water. Often, families are then forced to send their children to distant water points, forcing them to abandon their schooling, or to use dirty wells full of pathogens. This leads to a high number of Yemenis suffering from preventable diseases.
Anugerah works to reconnect affected families to a clean drinking water supply. For this purpose, rainwater collection systems are donated to them. In these systems, rainwater is passed through a filter system after collection. After an instruction, families can use the systems to produce their own drinking water. Last year, 1,450 families received such a rainwater collection system.
b) Emergency Medical Aid
Due to the civil war, the need for emergency medical care has increased rampantly, but unfortunately the possibilities to treat sick and injured persons have decreased. Furthermore, the number of preventable diseases has increased due to poor supply of nutrition and water. In addition, many suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder due to their experiences in the war. Anugerah is engaged on-site so that those affected receive the help they need.
Through the provision of containers with hygiene items and medicine, Anugerah was able to support local medical professionals in saving lives. Psychological support was provided for more than a thousand children suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. More than 700 people accessed psychological support offers for adults and received help. In addition, medical teams travelled to different regions to provide nutritional counselling and assistance in the villages. In total, Anugerah was able to provide medical care for 10,300 people in need in Yemen.
c) Emergency Shelters: Aid for Refugees and Orphans
Anugerah also assisted displaced persons in 2022, including those who had to flee because of the civil war as well as members of minorities who needed to go into hiding. Anugerah provided safe places for individuals or entire families to stay. The aid also included the provision of food, hygiene articles and, if necessary, psychological care. In this way, affected families were protected from further exploitation. Schooling was provided for children from refugee families.
e) School and Education
Apart from the three areas described above which had the goal of alleviating suffering, the fourth area had the goal of equipping people for the future. Children and youths are the future of the country. Therefore, the association Anugerah provided for school education without losing sight of the adults. In total, almost 20,000 Yemenis benefited directly from aid in the field of education in 2022. This included the construction, reconstruction or renovation of classrooms or alternative rooms for teaching. Scholarships were given out to school children.
Special attention was given to minorities such as the Achdam, who are otherwise denied access to education. As descendants of former slaves, the Achdam, who are easily identifiable due to their darker skin colour, are still heavily discriminated even today. In addition to school children, teachers and parents were empowered. For teachers, further trainings were made possible. Parents received trainings on how to encourage their children to learn, even though some of them cannot read or write themselves.
Project Conclusion
Looking back on the year 2022, we as the association Anugerah are grateful for the cooperation with our self-sacrificing and competent Yemeni partners. Without them, Anugerah's commitment would not have been possible. We would also like to thank the local authorities and the Lottery Fund of the canton of Bern. In the coming year, the association Anugerah will continue to help where needed in Yemen and. Together with their local staff, Anugerah hopes that one day the valley of shadows will be filled with light and that peace will return to Yemen.
Project supported by the Swiss Lottery Fund of the canton of Bern
