Yemen - IOM has distributed a total of 2,625 winter kits to the most vulnerable internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Taizz governorate, Yemen.

The kits will help alleviate the suffering of up to 16,000 IDPs during the harsh winter weather in the districts of Al Mudhaffar, Al Qahira, Salah, Jabal Habashi, Thubab, and Ashamayatain.

The kits contain core relief items such as mattresses, blankets, sleeping mats, water buckets, kitchen sets, plastic sheets, ropes, basic shelter equipment, and winter clothes for the whole family. The distributions were funded by the Government of Germany.

For nearly two years, Taizz has been the centre of intense ground clashes, military confrontations and airstrikes. While the fighting drags on, civilians suffer the most. Some 273,780 individuals are displaced in Taizz alone, placing it among the top five IDP-hosting governorates in the country.

In February 2016, IOM was the first humanitarian organization to successfully access the besieged enclave of the Al Qahira, Salah and Al Mudhaffar districts in the Taizz governorate. IOM supported 2,100 trapped IDPs with critical lifesaving assistance through distribution of shelter and core relief items.

Through 2016, and despite restricted access to Taizz, IOM successfully reached 23,376 individuals, providing them with shelter and core relief support. In addition, IOM implemented a series of lifesaving water and sanitation activities, which included trucking water to vital health facilities and IDPs sites, rehabilitation of water networks, and the provision of new water pumps to support more than 56,000 IDPs and individuals affected by the conflict in the governorate.

“We cannot remain indifferent to the increasing needs of the displaced Yemeni populations from and in Taizz. We find them completely destitute. They have lost their houses, belongings and jobs. I have a profound admiration for the Yemeni capacity to cope with such traumas and for the immense resilience and hospitality of the host families and communities,” said IOM Yemen Chief of Mission Laurent De Boeck.

“But the winter, the collapse of the economy and social and economic despair are now seriously impacting the population. It is our obligation to help the most vulnerable displaced populations. People in Taizz really need our support and IOM plans to open a new sub-office in the governorate shortly,” he added.

Since the start of the conflict in 26 March 2015, IOM has assisted 146,794 IDPs in Aden, Abyan, Lahj, Hadhramaut, Shabwah, Al Dhale’e, Sa’ada, Hajja, Al Jawf, Taizz, Al Maharah and Socotra governorates with shelter and core relief support.

Some 1,096,611 IDPs and conflict-affected persons have also benefited from IOM’s water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) activities in Abyan, Aden, Al Dhale'e, Al Jawf, Hadhramaut, Ibb, Taizz Lahj, Sana'a and Shabwah governorates.

IOM Yemen is seeking additional financial support to expand its operations and respond to the needs of the most affected vulnerable populations throughout the country. 

For further information please contact, Saba Malme at IOM Yemen, Tel: + 967 736 800 329, Email: smalme@iom.int