Yemen continues to be the worst humanitarian crisis in the world with over 22 million people – 75% of the population – in need of humanitarian assistance.
Mercy Corps’ new work, funded by the UK government, will help thousands of people who have had to flee from the conflict in and around Hodeidah in northern Yemen to the cities of al Mokha and Dhubab.
Mercy Corps will provide these vulnerable people, many of whom now have no access to essential services, with life-saving access to over 73,000 litres of clean water every day. They will also help over 21,000 people buy vital food through cash transfers, which are one of the most effective and direct ways of helping communities facing crisis, like those displaced from Hodeidah.
Cash transfers work by providing a modest amount of cash to vulnerable families so that they can buy essential items such as food, water, and medicine. This provides better value for money for UK taxpayers and gives recipients the dignity they deserve, with some research showing that £1 delivered through cash transfers can buy £1.20 worth of traditional aid.
“At a time of unprecedented need in Yemen, UK Aid plays a vital role in helping Mercy Corps meet the emergency needs of families who have been forced to flee their homes. However, until there is a political solution to the conflict in Yemen, their suffering will not end. Humanitarian organisations, like Mercy Corps, need to be able to provide life-saving support safely and securely, and we must continue all efforts to protect the humanitarian space,” said Simon O’Connell, Mercy Corps Executive Director.
Original source: DFID
Published on 30 July 2018
