IOM YEMEN

MARIB RESPONSE
27 SEPTEMBER-24 OCTOBER 2020

A DISPLACED CHILD IS PROVIDED HEALTH CARE BY IOM’S MOBILE HEALTH CLINIC AT A DISPLACEMENT SITE IN MARIB ©IOM 2020

SITUATION OVERVIEW
Conflict activities in Yemen’s hotspots continue to intensify, and areas close to frontlines in Marib and Al Jawf are the worst
affected. The third quarter of the year has seen an increase in civilian casualties and infrastructure damage, largely attributed
to the escalation in hostilities here. As frontlines continue to shift within both Marib and neighboring Al Jawf, thousands are
fleeing conflict affected parts in northwestern Al Jawf, and southwestern and northeastern Marib. The deteriorating security
situation in these areas is leading to a mass displacement situation and exacerbating already widespread needs. Humanitarian
access to some of the most vulnerable communities near to conflict points remains restricted, and most partners are unable
to safely access parts of Al Jawf as well Majzar and Madghal districts in Marib.
Even before the recent upsurge in hostilities, internally displaced persons (IDPs) have long fled to Marib, as the governorate
has seen relative stability since the beginning of the conflict in 2015. IOM assessments from 2018 indicate that around
800,000 IDPs were residing in the governorate, a majority living with relatives or renting accommodation in the host
communities (over 300,000 people in 2014). Today, IDPs arriving in Marib city and surrounding areas are some of the most
vulnerable, having left everything behind and many having already been displaced previously.
As vulnerabilities within displaced communities rise, the population of stranded migrants in Marib is also growing. Traditional
migration routes are largely inactive as a result of COVID-19 movement restrictions, and with migrants being pushed from
other governorates, IOM estimates that over 5,000 migrants are stranded, mainly, in Marib city in dire need of food, shelter,
health and protection assistance.

[email protected]  http://www.iom.int/countries/Yemen
MARIB RESPONSE UPDATE 27 SEPTEMBER TO 15 OCTOBER 2020 IOM YEMEN

HUMANITARIAN IMPACT & NEEDS

199,521
IDPs in acute need 5,000
Migrants in acute need
45% have no access to health care
40% in need of food
80% lack some form of civil documentation
84% do not have access to health services
80% of sites have no access to reliable waste management systems
83% of sites report education as a priority need

Displacements within and to Marib have accounted for over half of all conflict-related displacements in Yemen in 2020. Over
98,000 people have been displaced within or to Marib alone. In September and October, nearly 3,000 households were
displaced towards Marib city and Marib Al Wadi. Large scale fighting will significantly worsen the displacement situation,
and partners are preparing for the worst-case scenario of up to 55,000 new households displaced into Eastern Marib and
Hadramaut. In September 2020, humanitarian partners developed a preparedness plan to ensure that critical shelter, non-
food items, medical, water and sanitation, and food supplies are prepositioned in these areas to quickly respond to the
emergency needs.
The displacement crisis is placing a strain on existing resources and coping systems. There are very limited services available
to support IDPs, and with many IDPs arriving into already overcrowded displacement sites, service gaps are widening.
Resources are also stretched within host communities, and COVID-19 has had an impact on incomes and livelihoods across
the board. Remittances are the lowest since start of the conflict while the price of food has seen a marked increase. With
property damages caused by conflict activities common place, community and civilian infrastructures are heavily affected:
one school was recently hit by shellfire in Marib city, while damages to roads restricted access and movements for over 1,000
households. IOM estimates that access to education is especially restricted within displacement sites, where over 80 per cent
of school going children do not have access to education support.
In the 46 displacement sites where IOM and partners are providing assistance, the situation is dire, and needs are considerably
higher outside of Marib city. New arrivals are settling into places with limited water, sanitation and health facilities: some
180,000 people do not have access to reliable waste management systems and nearly 10,000 families require access to safe
and appropriate sanitation facilities. The risks of disease outbreaks and the spread of communicable and water borne disease
is high, and this is especially concerning in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Health partners are providing services
in 26 IDP hosting sites through static and mobile clinics, leaving an estimated 100,000 people in need of access to lifesaving
health services.
With the escalating conflict situation and widespread needs, a key priority for the response is to scale up humanitarian
partner presence and resources on the ground. Resources for frontline activities carried out through the Rapid Response
Mechanism, through which newly displaced households receive immediate in kind and cash support, is especially critical
for the displacement response. Currently there are approximately 15 partners responding to the displacement crisis on
the ground in Marib, most with insufficient financial and human resources to provide continuous support to the estimated
199,521 individuals in dire need in Marib governorate.

ADVOCACY POINTS

1. IOM encourages partners to provide a dedicated response in Marib. There are current humanitarian response gaps
not being met and IOM anticipates further shocks and increased needs in the months to come. IOM operates a
shared humanitarian hub and can provide logistical support and office space, please refer to IOM Yemen’s Marib
Booking Procedures brochure for further information.
2. Maintaining the relative stability of Marib is a priority and IOM is concerned about further displacement and
the humanitarian impact on civilians. Those partners that have influence should continue to advocate against an
escalation of hostilities.

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MARIB RESPONSE UPDATE 27 SEPTEMBER TO 15 OCTOBER 2020 IOM YEMEN

RESPONSE UPDATES
The IOM Marib team is comprised of 17 international and 81 national support and programme staff in Marib as well as
nearly 200 community mobilizers and enumerators. Eleven international staff are currently in Marib and leading response
activities. IOM is assisting in coordinating response efforts in Marib through its leadership of the CCCM and Health sub-national
clusters, co-leadership of the WASH sub-national cluster, Marib-based focal point of the protection cluster, and as S-NFI
Contingency Pipeline Manager. IOM is also working closely with the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MoPHP) and the
Governorate Health Office (GHO) on COVID-19 preparedness and response activities. IOM is playing an active role in the
Emergency Coordination Committee, chaired by Executive Unit, attended by Clusters leads and other humanitarian partners,
and responsible for coordinating response activities to new displacements in Marib.

14,076 13,415 9,117 6,532 508

Newly displaced Displaced persons MPCA provided NFI kits distributed Latrines
households registered received RRM kits constructed

19,878 5,543 44.4 million 1

Plastic sheets Shelters provided Litres of safe drinking COVID-19 isolation
water provided centre for IDPs established

*Key highlights from 21 January to 24 October

A BOY SPEAKS WITH AN IOM DOCTOR PART OF A MOBILE HEALTH TEAM IN A DISPLACEMENT SITE IN MARIB ©IOM 2020

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MARIB RESPONSE UPDATE 27 SEPTEMBER TO 15 OCTOBER 2020 IOM YEMEN

IOM & PARTNER COVERAGE

46 of 130 Sites covered by SMC partners SITE CARE & SITE MAINTENANCE

• 16,988 households in 46 IDP hosting sites receiving

8 Sites IOM site management support; 84 IDP hosting sites (8,216
IDP HHs) not supported by site management and
coordination partners.
• 24 of 130 IDP hosting sites receiving regular site care,
10 Sites Estijabah Foundation Marib Al Wadi
maintenance and risk reduction support.
• 1 contingency plan developed in coordination with
16 sites IOM Marib City
humanitarian partners for anticipated IDP influxes.

Sirwah

12 Sites BFD*

*Building Foundation for Development (BFD)

SHELTER & NON-FOOD ITEMS (S-NFI) & HEALTH

RAPID RESPONSE MECHANISM (RRM)
• 2 RRM partners responding to the emergency needs • 1 fixed clinic and 4 mobile outreach teams covering
of newly displaced persons inside and outside IDP 26 IDP hosting sites, carrying out 1,500 consultations
hosting sites in 7 districts, with 5 districts inaccessible per week on average; there are approximately 39 sites
due to conflict. without sustained access to health services.

• 24 IDP hosting sites supported through IOM S-NFI • 1 COVID-19 isolation and treatment centre
interventions, covering approximately 60 per cent of operating at capacity in Marib city (63 beds, including
the S-NFI needs in those sites. intensive care, inpatient and triage capacity).

A MOTHER DISPLACED IN MARIB TEACHES HER CHILDREN PROPER HANDWASHING TECHNIQUES ©IOM 2020

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MARIB RESPONSE UPDATE 27 SEPTEMBER TO 15 OCTOBER 2020 IOM YEMEN

TRANSITION & RECOVERY

• 1,295 households have benefited from livelihood interventions, including multi-purpose cash assistance (MPCA) (695);
cash for work (350); and vocational training and business start-up kits (250). IOM assessments indicate that lack of jobs is
the second highest source of tension in displacement affected communities in Marib.

WOMEN TAKE PART IN AN IOM ORGANIZED CLEANING CAMPAIGN IN MARIB ©IOM 2020

WATER, SANITATION & HYGIENE (WASH) PROTECTION

• 508 family latrines constructed in Marib city, Marib Al • 404 IDPs and 615 migrants screened to identify
Wadi, Sirwah districts, with approximately 10,000 IDP vulnerabilities and needs; 662 migrants received food
HHs estimated to be in need of sanitation services. and non-food items in Marib city and Al Wadi, 1,439
• 11 IDP hosting sites (12,518 HH) receive water for migrants received dignity kits in Marib city and Al-Wadi’
drinking and household use daily, and 6 IDP hosting sites and 167 migrants received temporary shelter support.
(2,423 HH) with access to rehabilitated or expanded An estimated 1,000 migrants are in need of emergency
water networks, with 20 additional IDP sites requiring aid assistance, with many migrants approaching IOM for
access to safe water. return support.

IOM’S RESPONSE IN MARIB IS SUPPORTED BY