How can humanitarian aid be directed to Yemen more effectively?

Learn about a set of principles and guidelines for good planning and provision of humanitarian aid in Yemen.

Aid focusing on training and technical support to increase the effectiveness of humanitarian aid in Yemen. Image source: USAID ERLP

The Protection Group in Yemen released research highlighting the principles and guidelines for targeting humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable populations in Yemen. It emphasizes the need for impartial aid delivery based on need, without discrimination. The vulnerability criteria outlined in the document aim to assist humanitarian actors in identifying and targeting the most in need based on protection and socio-economic vulnerabilities.

The document stresses that vulnerability is not a fixed category and can change over time with changing circumstances. Factors such as age, gender, diversity, specific needs, displacement status, and other characteristics are critical in determining vulnerability. Vulnerability is shaped by personal and environmental factors, and it is not limited to poverty. The document highlights the importance of conducting vulnerability analysis when planning assistance for people, considering factors such as location of household, personal factors, socio-economic factors, documentation, and gender analysis.

Humanitarian aid in Yemen should be directed to the most vulnerable groups without discrimination. Image source: Reuters.

Specific vulnerable groups identified in the document include children, adolescents, older persons, women and girls, people with chronic illness, disabilities, and injuries, displaced persons, returnees, minority groups, population hosting displaced persons, people in access-restricted areas, survivors of land-mine incidents, people with no legal documentation, and people facing extreme socio-economic hardship. Each of these groups faces specific risks and challenges, and the document provides detailed considerations for targeting assistance to these vulnerable populations.

Furthermore, the document emphasizes the need for a protection and vulnerability focus, ensuring that the full picture is considered, including disaggregated data in assessments and decision-making processes. It also advocates for a participatory approach, involving community participation in all phases of the humanitarian program.

In conclusion, the document provides comprehensive guidance for humanitarian actors on how to identify and assist the most vulnerable populations in Yemen. It stresses the importance of considering various factors and risks when targeting assistance and highlights the specific needs of different vulnerable groups in the context of the ongoing conflict and natural disasters in Yemen.