Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, Catherine Bragg on Yemen and the Philippines - Press Statement

Noon briefing, 2 December 201

Ladies and gentlemen,

I have just returned from a four-day mission to Yemen and I must say that I am extremely concerned that millions of people around the country are facing a severe and worsening humanitarian crisis.

This crisis is not only touching people who are directly affected by conflict or displacement. What we are seeing now is chronic deprivation made worse by the breakdown of essential social services as a result of the political turmoil and violence. We are seeing rates of malnutrition in young children comparable to those in Somalia. A third of the population who doesn’t know where their next meal is coming from. And a looming health crisis.

The scarcity of resources, as well as the growing influx of refugees and migrants from the Horn of Africa, is placing severe strain on host communities. They’re increasingly needing assistance themselves, especially in terms of food, health care, sanitation and clean water.

I travelled to Aden in the south, and Harad’h in the north, as well of course, to the capital, Sana’a. I wanted to assess the crisis firsthand, discuss ways of responding to the growing needs with partners and make sure that the authorities understand the urgency of the situation.

Tens of thousands of people have been displaced by the fighting in Abyan Governorate in southern Yemen in recent months. Most are living with host families or in school buildings in Aden and neighbouring governorates. However, as the fighting in Abyan continues, it is unlikely that they will be able to go home in the near future.

I spoke to the local authorities about the need to find lasting solutions for people sheltering in the schools. I also underlined the fact that humanitarian workers must have independent access to all areas where civilians are being displaced.

In northern Yemen, around 300,000 people remain displaced by the conflict in Sa’ada. Many of these people are unable to return to their homes because of insecurity, fears of retaliation, and loss of livelihoods and assets. Several aid agencies have had to reduce their presence because of threats made by armed groups.

I have met families living in Al-Mazrak camp where, despite the best efforts of aid agencies, I noticed a deterioration in the situation compared to what I saw a year ago. So far we have not seen high numbers of deaths among malnourished children, which is thanks to the efforts of the communities themselves and aid organizations. Much more needs to be done to prevent the situation from getting even worse.

In Harad’h, I visited a supplementary feeding centre, where Medecins Sans Frontieres expressed concern that the condition of their patients had not improved in the two years since the clinic opened. They said this was partly due to food shortages and lack of sanitation, and the need for better education on nutrition.

For these reasons, in 2012, we and our partners will expand humanitarian programmes so that we can reach as many as possible of the 3.8 million people across Yemen needing life-saving aid. This figure includes internally displaced people, refugees, as well as the host communities whose needs I have just described.

To scale up aid also means that humanitarian workers must be allowed into the country. In my meetings with the Government, I asked that the procedure for visa applications for international Non-Government Organizations be speeded up. International NGOs are working closely with local partners: however, there are just too few of them at the moment and many are waiting for visa clearance.

In total, humanitarian actors are requesting total funding of US$452 million for 2012, a 35 per cent increase as compared to 2011. This funding will cover food and nutrition, water, sanitation and health and make sure the most vulnerable people - in the most vulnerable communities - get the help they need.

I visited Yemen following important political developments in the country. However, even though the transition agreement has been signed, and there is a sense of hope for the future, conflict is likely to continue with devastating effects on civilians.

Humanitarian needs are expected to deteriorate over the next year and we must do everything we can to make sure that these needs are not overshadowed by the political agenda.

The Government and other authorities must understand and respond to the urgency of the situation, including reversal of the breakdown in basic public services that accompanied the political turmoil to date.

It will be crucial for the political, humanitarian and development agendas in Yemen to complement one another to ensure that a comprehensive response addresses the underlying problems and the needs of the people.

I call on the Yemeni authorities and others involved in the conflict to respect their international obligations. They must protect civilians and civilian infrastructures and ensure humanitarian access to basic services.

I also call on the international community to remain vigilant and fully aware of the situation. We ask them to give generously. We cannot risk the situation becoming another catastrophe in a region already facing so many challenges and hardships.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I also went to the Philippines and visited Mindanao for the first time.

It was an important opportunity to see and hear first-hand how communities in that part of the Philippines are coping with a protracted humanitarian crisis, brought about by years of armed conflict and other forms of violence, as well as recurring natural disasters. I met regional government authorities and aid organizations, to discuss what more can be done to respond to the very real humanitarian needs in this part of the country.

Although the number of displaced people in Mindanao has fallen since 2008, when around three-quarters of a million people fled conflict or violence, tens of thousands of people from that displacement still need help – as well as a lasting solution to jobs, homes, land and security.

Currently, humanitarian agencies estimate that around 700,000 people are in dire need of humanitarian relief, protection and livelihood support in central Mindanao and millions are living in constant fear. Fear of being displaced a second, third or fourth time, and dispossessed of their land. As well as people affected by this year’s monsoon floods and armed conflict, this number includes people who have returned home or resettled elsewhere, and people who are vulnerable even if they still live in their own homes.

In one village, I spoke to a mother of four children, who had been displaced by armed conflict twice in the last five years, on top of dealing with recurring floods. Although her home was only seven kilometres away, the security situation meant that she didn’t know when her family might be able to return.

I am deeply concerned by the impact of these cycles of displacement. Having to move repeatedly makes it extremely difficult for civilians to recover and get on with their normal lives. The rights of the displaced, and others affected by conflict, must be respected.

The United Nations and its partners stand ready to support Government-led responses to emergency situations in the Philippines. I was pleased to learn that there is close collaboration between aid agencies and the Government both nationally and locally. It is important to stress though, that even while playing a supportive role, humanitarian agencies need unhindered and independent access. To do their job properly, they must be allowed to undertake essential humanitarian assessments, particularly of the needs of the newly displaced people in insecure areas.

In 2011, the United Nations and partners appealed for $33 million for a Humanitarian Action Plan for Mindanao. However, the plan is currently only 54 per cent funded. For 2012, we will launch an action plan for close to $38 million that prioritizes protection activities, and support the return to normalcy of affected populations, particularly livelihood opportunities, and strengthen the capacity of the local government and communities to do so.

Finally, I want to emphasize to the international community that the situation in Mindanao requires their sustained and increased support. Despite some tangible progress, the needs and vulnerabilities of the people are serious and complex, and the situation remains fragile.

Thank you for your attention.

For further information, please call:
Amanda Pitt, OCHA NY, pitta@un.org, Tel. +1 212 963 4129, Cell +1 917 442 1810
Mark Turner, OCHA NY, turner5@un.org, Tel. +1 917 367 5707, Cell +1 917 951 3047
OCHA press releases are available at www.unocha.org or www.reliefweb.int.