The Start Fund has awarded £294,720 to Action Against Hunger and International Medical Corps to respond to conflict and displacement in Yemen. This is the second Start Fund allocation for the ongoing conflict in Yemen, which has been classed as a forgotten emergency by ECHO, appearing in its forgotten crisis assessment (FCA) index every year for the past six years.
International Medical Corps raised the alert one week ago, following the recent escalation of violence in the country. The alert note described how “this complex crisis, though long standing, suddenly deteriorated at the onset of Saudi airstrikes.” It went on to describe how there is a critical lack of support for those affected by the conflict, because many NGO staff operating in the area have been evacuated, access has been restricted, and supplied are limited.
The briefing note produced by ACAPS following the alert explains the impact of the recent deterioration:
"Conflict has escalated since 23 March, affecting 13 out of 21 governorates. Over 20 March–1 April, at least 360 people were killed and around 1,400 injured, many of whom are civilians. This includes at least 62 children killed and 30 injured. Airstrikes have killed at least 70 civilians… Humanitarian needs in Yemen were critically high before the recent escalation of the conflict, with 15.9 million people in need of humanitarian aid.”
Development Initiatives also provided a briefing note which described how 9% of a US$748 million 2015 UN-coordinated appeal for Yemen has been raised so far. But beyond what has been reported to UN OCHA Financial Tracking Service there are currently no reports in the media of new pledges to Yemen from major donors in response to the current escalation of the crisis.
The Start Fund Allocation Committee met on Wednesday 2 April and agreed to activate the Fund with an envelope of £400,000. A project selection committee was then convened in Yemen on Saturday 4 April to assess the two proposals that were submitted.
This local PSC, comprised of colleagues from Action Against Hunger, CARE, International Medical Corps, Save the Children and Islamic Relief, agreed that both proposals were strong and should be funded.
These two projects, which are now underway, will aim to reach 23,930 people through the provision of water, food, vouchers, non-food items, hygiene kits and primary healthcare drugs, and treatment for trauma casualties and malnutrition.
Photo: Save the Children's Start Fund response in Yemen last year.