Yemen - Since February, ground clashes in bordering areas of Lahj and Taizz governorates in Yemen have forced hundreds of families out of their homes and villages to seek safety away from their homes of habitual residence.

Recently, through IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), IOM field staff identified 80 households that have fled to areas in Tur Al Baha district, Lahj, and 35 households to Tuban district, Lahj.

IOM field teams, comprised of shelter/non-food items (NFIs) and DTM teams, conducted rapid assessments and revealed the most urgent needs of these IDP families to be shelter/NFIs along with water and sanitation and hygiene (WASH) assistance.

This week, IOM shelter/NFIs teams distributed kits to 30 of the most vulnerable households in Tur Al Baha District with further transportation and distribution of another 85 Shelter and NFI kits comprising of mattresses, blankets, kitchen sets, sleeping mats, jerry cans, plastic sheets, and rope scheduled for early next week in Tur Al Baha and Tuban District.

Recently arrived Chief of Mission for IOM Yemen, Laurent De Boeck, said: “In adherence to the humanitarian principles, IOM remains committed to meet the needs of the most vulnerable affected populations, as displacement continues to touch numerous families throughout the country, and the humanitarian situation remains dire. IOM is taking all possible measures to continue serving the people of Yemen and provide direct relief in close cooperation with its national and international partners.”

Since the beginning of the crisis, IOM has assisted 834 internally displaced persons (IDPs) and families (approximately 5,838 individuals) in Tur Al Baha, Madarebah Wa Ras El Arah, Al Qabbaitah and Karish districts of Lahj govenorates.

In December 2015, IOM assisted the Local Corporation for Water and Sanitation through procuring and replacing seven water pumps in Tuban District, benefitting approximately 33,838 individuals. IOM has been assisting IDPs in Lahj governorate with a daily supply of water and the distribution of family water tanks and dignity kits.

Since 26 March 2015, IOM has assisted a total 63,709 IDPs in Aden, Abyan, Lahj, Hadhramaut, Shabwah, Al Dhale’e, Sa’ada, Taizz, Al Maharah and Socotra governorates through shelter and NFI support. A total of 634,596 IDPs and conflict-affected persons (266,530 women, 285,568 men, 44,422 girls and 38,076 boys) have benefitted from IOM’s WASH activities in Abyan, Aden, Al Dhale'e, Al Jawf, Hadhramaut, Ibb, Taizz Lahj, Sana'a and Shabwah governorates. On average, 15 litres of water per person per day is provided by IOM.

IOM Yemen’s Emergency Response is funded by OFDA (US), DFID (UK) and Japan. IOM is seeking additional funding to expand its operations to respond to the needs of the most vulnerable affected populations in Yemen.

For further information, please contact Saba Malme, IOM Yemen, Tel: + 967 1 410 568, Email: smalme@iom.int