OCHA Yemen Press Release – CERF Allocation $18M, May 2023 [EN/AR]

The Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) allocates US$ 18 million for the urgent needs of people affected by humanitarian crises in Yemen: In March 2023, the Under-Secretary-General and Emergency Relief Coordinator (USG/ERC), Martin Griffiths, approved the allocation of US$ 18 million to Yemen from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to prevent famine and address rising levels of food insecurity driven by conflict, economic shocks and climate change. This allocation will provide a comprehensive and integrated package of services and multi-sector interventions using the Integrated Famine Risk Reduction (IFRR) mechanism for both in-kind and multi-purpose cash assistance (MPCA), to reduce the rising levels of acute malnutrition and address food insecurity in Yemen.

In 2023, the humanitarian crisis will affect 17.3 million people. More recently, evidence from the IPC analysis conducted in March 2023 for districts under the control of the Government of Yemen indicates that some areas continue to experience high food insecurity while overall acute malnutrition has increased. The recent SMART survey shows that more than two-thirds of infants and young children under the age of two years are not appropriately nourished and cared for, which solidifies the ground for increasing acute and chronic malnutrition among children under the age of five years.

The humanitarian response in Yemen continues to be severely underfunded, depriving thousands of people of vital humanitarian assistance. As of the end of May 2023, the Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan is only 23.5 per cent funded. Therefore, “this allocation will support the people most in need in three governorates of Hajjah, Al Hodeidah, and Taiz which are amongst the most vulnerable and affected by both food insecurity and acute malnutrition, focusing on reducing the GAM (Global Acute Malnutrition) among girls and boys under five by at least one to two percent, and an improve the food security situation,” stated the Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen, Mr. David Gressly.

The projects funded by the CERF will be implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

In order to improve timely access to vulnerable populations and to ensure the sustainability of humanitarian assistance, the concerned agencies will work in close collaboration with national NGOs which have better access to hard-to-reach areas.

“This planned response approach builds upon geographic, thematic, operational and population convergence with joint entry points to deliver services. This holistic approach will deliver tangible results that will be measured through joint monitoring, and the successful implementation used to leverage additional funding from other donors, including in complementarity with the upcoming YHF standard allocation,” said Sajjad Mohammad Sajid, the Head of Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Yemen.

For further Information please email: ochayemen@un.org