a) Executive Summary
The collapse of the Said Barre government in 1991 resulted in waves of Somali refugees arriving in Yemen, a signatory to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. Conflict in Somalia and refugee arrivals to Yemen continue, with the possibility of escalation in the future. The Yemeni government, under humanitarian considerations, accepts Somali, and non-Somali refugees. Somali refugees are accepted on a prima facie basis and non-Somali refugees have to go through a refugee Status Determination process (RSD). Refugees have spread out across the country, with higher concentrations in the urban centres of Sana'a and Basateen, and at the Kharaz camp.
The Joint Assessment Mission (JAM) composed of WFP, UNHCR, and UNICEF visited these sites during the period 23 May to 7 June 2009. Government officials from National Sub-Committee for Refugee Affairs (NASCRA) accompanied the mission as observers. Refugees and host communities were interviewed at the household level, in gender groups, focus groups, and amongst key informants. Meetings and discussions were held with UN staff and the various Implementing Partners. The mission benefited from a series of studies conducted prior to the field work. These included the April 2009 Nutrition Survey, which had been recommended by the 2007 JAM. The UNHCR Livelihoods Assessment and the WFP Cash-Voucher Study of 2008 also provided valuable insight. Results of a Ground Water Study in Kharaz are awaited.
The government of Yemen has initiated a computerized, biometric based (fingerprinting) refugee registration system that would also benefit programme delivery through improved targeting of beneficiaries of food and non-food services. Refugees have access to government schools and clinics, lack of documentation, and work permits, remain serious limitations to self reliance. A national policy/law for refugees and asylum seekers with a clear stipulation of the right to work is required. Planning for a sudden large influx of refugees requires government attention as existing sites at the urban centres and the camp are limited in capacity. Whereas, the mission found no serious tensions among host communities and Somali refugees in urban areas of Sana'a and Basateen, the non-Somali refugees complain of discrimination. The host communities around the Kharaz camp demand support from government and their protests have at times been disruptive and violent. UN agencies and IP's have provided services in water and health, vocational training and income generating activities.
The nutrition survey of April 2009 recorded between 19 - 22% stunting and 7 – 11% acute malnutrition amongst refugees. The mission concluded that refugees in general have limited dietary diversity. The food aid and nutrition treatment programmes should continue and targeting would benefit from a more rigorous identification scheme once registration is complete. The food voucher scheme should be expanded in Sana'a and extended to Basateen. Addition of milk powder, as a component of a cereal based premix, to the school/supplementary diets is recommended. Monitoring for nutrition treatment programmes should be based on WHO 2006 weight for height instead of weight for age indicators. Opportunities to improve dietary diversity at the camp are low and the introduction of kitchen gardens, subject to water availability, is recommended as well as introducing a nutrient dense complementary food supplement (CFS) for all children between 6 and 24 months of age.
Vocational training and micro-credit schemes should be expanded, with more educational programmes including expansion of adult literacy and long-term youth scholarships. A tutorial programme to prepare youth for higher education is available in Aden through the Ministry of Education (MoE) and is recommended for Sana'a. Solar powered cooking stoves should be explored by WFP and UNHCR and introduced at the camp.
Coordination between the agencies would improve by estimating beneficiaries for each month of the coming year at all stages: reception and urban centres, and the camp. Efforts should continue for durable solutions through self reliance, and re-settlement.
