Abyan Assessment Report 8-9 July 2012

Abyan Assessment Report

8-9 July 2012

Acknowledgment

Humanitarian Country Team in Yemen is expressing appreciation for the full support and dedicated efforts provided by the participants in all phases of this process, clusters and staff. In particular, HCT would like to salute the humanitarian commitment of the following agencies and their staff for participating in the field visits under security risks:

UN agencies (UNHCR, UNICEF, WHO, IOM, OCHA)

INGOs (Save the Children, Intersos, DRC, Oxfam)

National NGOs (SHS and CSSW)

Executive Summary:

From 8 July to 9 July 2012 United nations conducted its first inter-agency mission to Abyan¹. The mission was led by OCHA and consisted of representatives from UN agencies (UNHCR, UNICEF, WHO, IOM), INGOs (Save the Children, Intersos, DRC, Oxfam) and national NGOs (SHS and CSSW).Due to security situation in Abyan field visits were conducted by members of the local NGOs (insert the name of the Local NGOs and number of participants from each agency). DSS participated in the field visits and conducted in parallel a Security risk Analysis.

The tool used for collecting information was developed based on discussion with humanitarian partners since March 2012. OCHA deployed a mission in March 2012 for developing Multi Cluster/ Sectoral Initial Rapid Assessment (MIRA) to be used in Yemen. Right after the introductory workshop organized in Yemen, OCHA developed a draft investigation form (IF). Different clusters in Yemen reviewed the wording and type of information to be collected through the IF. In Late April a second discussion round organized for the clusters to agree on the logistical arrangements. The clusters during the second round of discussion agreed on selecting two areas to be targeted in piloting assessment; these areas are: Sa'ada/ Abyan.

The clusters realized that in Sa'ada the international Humanitarian community is suffering from the limited resources of information. In addition, there are a lot of restrictions are imposed by Al-houthies on conducting multi cluster assessments and even to operate in the areas under their control. Although continuous discussion succeeded in providing a limited space for operating. Yet OCHA is engaging in dialogue and negotiations with Al-houties to expand the humanitarian space and as part of this discussion is to allow conducting MIRA in Sa'ada. As a Plan B, the clusters agreed to select another area for testing the tool; especially that Al houties are well know with their reluctant manner². Therefore, clusters agreed on either Arhab, which faces continuous armed clashes between supporter of ex-president and Al Islah political group. The other selected area was Abyan if the security situation permitted.

The eruption of military operations in Abyan in May transferred the focus of the international humanitarian community in Yemen to Abyan due to the severity of the military operations. Therefore, it was decided by HCT to conduct urgently the assessment in Abyan.

As a preparation for the field visits OCHA/ Aden field Office organized meetings with the head of the military units operating in South and governors of Abyan and Aden. OCHA team in Aden designed also preparatory technical meetings with a support from Sana'a team to finalize the needed amendments on the general IF prepared during OCHA's mission. Finally, OCHA team organized two brief training on K1 for the teams members to who will participate in the field phase.

Right after conducting the field visits; a team from OCHA Yemen in collaboration with OCHA Pakistan started the data entry phase. IMU of OCHA Yemen completed the data analysis and participating teams were consulted on the lessons learned drafted by OCHA Yemen.