The Role of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Yemen Crisis - Case Study Example

THE ROLE OF THE UNHCR IN YEMEN CRISIS Student’s name Course code + name Professor’s name University name City, State Date of submission ABBREVIATIONS GCC Gulf Cooperation Council UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees IOM International Organisation for Migration WFP World Food Programme IMMAP Internet & Mobile Marketing Association of the Philippines UNICEF United Nations Children’s Fund UNDSS United Nations Department for Safety and Security IMC International Medical Cooperation MDF Millennium Development Foundation YRC Yemen Red Crescent ADRA Adventist Development and Relief Agency IS Islamic State EPI Expanded Programme on Immunisation USAID United States Agency for International Development UKAID United Kingdom Agency for International Development Introduction It is evident that Yemen is at war. The Huthi Movement and the Anti-Huthi Coalition have divided the country. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Western support the anti-Huthi coalition (ICG 2015). The Huthi Movement is in control of the northern territory and is extending its control gradually to the South (Garrett 2011). For instance, on the 25th of March, 2015, the movement took control of a military base located in the north of Aden, the port city. During the capture exercise, the movement held the defence minister hostage. In the quest to restore the government of President Abdo Robo Mansour Hadi, the Saudi Arabian Government in conjunction of other nine states launched a military campaign to thwart the efforts of the movement. At the moment, the country is at the verge of a civil war. As a result, the necessity for humanitarian aid for the returnees, refugees and migrants has compelled the study team to visit Yemen so as to assess the contribution of the UNHCR towards offering humanitarian assistance in the country. Having received research funds worth $40,000, the team of 20 people arrived in Yemen on Sunday 13th March 2016 to prepare for the scheduled meetings that commenced on Monday 14th March 2016 through Friday 18th March 2016. I was the team leader with my assistant being XXXXXX. On arrival, the team’s task was to meet the Protection Officer at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (Stefan Maier). The officer was responsible for briefing us on the security issues on the ground so as to ensure that our inspection process was successful and effective. The officer also played a pivotal role in ascertaining that we operated within the deadline for the first quarter of 2016. BRIEF SCHEDULE OF MEETING DAY 1 14TH MARCH 2015: (9:00am) a meeting with the IOM’s official in charge of refugees and migrants in Yemen, Abdullah Al-Shami. (2:00pm): a meeting with the iMMAP official in charge of education in Yemen Ayman Al Azazi. DAY 2 15TH MARCH 2015 (9:00am): a meeting with the UNHCR protection cluster coordinator in Yemen Saddam Alhubaishi. DAY 3 16TH MARCH 2015 (9:00am): a meeting with the UNICEF child protection coordinator Ranya Al Jaberi. (2:00pm): a meeting with the WHO health coordinator in Yemen Syed Haider Ali. DAY 4 17TH MARCH 2015 (9:00am): a meeting with the UNICEF water sanitation hygiene coordinator in Yemen Derek Kim. (2:00pm): a meeting with the WFP logistics officer in Yemen Silvia Pontillo. DAY 5 18TH MARCH 2015 (9:00am): a meeting with the UNHCR Protection Cluster Yemen official Mathijs Le Rutte. The Aims and Objectives of the UNHCR in Yemen Crisis The major objective of the UNHCR in Yemen is to offer protection and material assistance to the refugees, returnees and migrants (YHCT 2015). The organisation guarantees legal protection to the refugees, returnees and migrants by providing sanitation, medical care, water, food and shelter. Therefore, it is responsible for the delivery and provision of items related to the protection and material assistance required by the returnees, refugees and migrants (Crisp et al. 2007). The UNHCR also either manages directly or helps in the management of the refugee camps (Turk 2001). In the delivery of humanitarian aid to the displaced individuals, the UNHCR targets the disadvantaged individuals such as the elderly, women and children that comprise approximately 80% of a standard refugee population (Feller 2006). Just like in the other cases, the UNHCR targets to ascertain that the returnees get access to education at the end of the crisis. An Overview of the Yemen Crisis The battle for supremacy and control between the Huthi movement and the anti-Huthi movement claims responsibility for the Yemen crisis (Sharp 2015). As a result, a great number of Yemenis have had to flee their usual residents with the intention of seeking asylum in safer parts either within Yemen’s territories or outside the country (Salisbury 2014). Salvaging a political process that would result in either a broadly accepted presidential council or president suffices to be the only solution to the crisis failure to which innocent Yemenis will still encounter the adverse effects of the crisis. The unravelling of the troubled political transition started in September, 2014 (UNHCR 2015). During the period, the fighters of the Huthi movement captured Sanaa thereby causing the unpopular transition government to topple. None of the conflicting members honoured the peace deal. Conflict emanating from the draft constitution resulted in the consolidation of the capital’s control by the Huthis. Consequently, the president and the prime minister resigned on the 22nd of February 2015 and fled to Aden. Even though the divide between the supporters of the president and the Huthi Movement is the most explosive, it is worth noting that this is not the only conflict that the country is facing. The convenience marriage between the preceding President Ali Abdullah Saleh and the Huthis has given rise to significant tensions (Ginny 2011). It is apparent that the former President has capitalised on the unpopularity of the government of his successor to support the Huthi Movement following his deposition from office in 2011. The divide is also prevalent in the South, even though the region was independent prior to its union with the North in 1990 (Salisbury 2015). The Southern separatists continue to exhibit internal division due to their reduced trust in President Hadi. The Islamic State (IS) and the al-Qaeda movement are also contributing towards the crisis due to their quest to gain control of an already destabilised nation (Baron 2015). Figure 1.0 Yemen Refugee Children in UNHCR compound Findings The UNHCR targets a total of 1,617,205 individuals affected by the Yemen crisis. The people include the migrants and refugees both within Yemen and in the surrounding countries. The refugees are victims of internal displacement caused by the crisis (UNHCR 2015; UNHCR 2009). Based on the findings of the Commission, there are 1,267,590 victims of internal displacement either prior to the crisis or as a consequence of the conflict. The Commission has also identified 99,615 arrivals to Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Djibouti, Sudan, Oman and Ethiopia mainly by overland or sea. In Yemen, there are 250,000 refugees that require life sustaining items and protection assistance. Following the onset of the Yemen crisis, the UNHCR has managed to reach 79,786 individuals with emergency relief items. The Commission has budgeted the required funding for the crisis to be $134.1 million (UNHCR 2015). However, the Commission has only received 22% of the necessary budget required to provide protection assistance and material items to the refugees, returnees and migrants. In order to guarantee its operability in Aden, the UNHCR has partnered with the WFP and the UNDSS to evaluate the possibility of reopening UN offices in Aden. The humanitarian coordinator has heightened the significance of joining efforts by all the stakeholders towards protecting civilian infrastructure and civilian lives from the adverse effects of the crisis (IOM 2015). The severe underfunding of the Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan suffices to be a major challenge that the Commission encounters in the provision of material needs and protection assistance (IOM 2016). Somalia, Ethiopia and Djibouti have been some of the favourite destinations to the refugees and migrants of the crisis. Towards the end of the first quarter of 2015, there were 28596 new arrivals in Somalia out of which the UNHCR registered 17,265 migrants with the help of partners and local authorities located in Mogadishu, Berbera and Bossaso Reception Centres. Ethiopia has also received 3,313 refugees since the onset of the crisis. The figure comprises of 2,500 Somali nationals, 805 Yemenis, 4 Iraqis and 4 Eritreans. The UNHCR registered 1,653 refugees. Since the onset of the crisis, Djibouti has registered 22,555 refugees out of which 46% are Yemeni nationals. Out of the number of new arrivals in Djibouti, the UNHCR registered 2,522 refugees (UNHCR 2015). Figure 2.0 Demonstrates UNHCR records on Yemen refugee arrivals in Djibouti Figure 2.0 Yemen Refugee Arrivals in Djibouti Actions and Progress The reopening of the refugee registration office in Sanaa has enabled the UNHCR to register new asylum-seekers and refugees. For instance, the UNHCR has recorded 239 renewed refugee registrations and registered 228 asylum seekers and refugees (UNHCR 2015). The UNHCR has also partnered with InterSos to handle cases involving detainees charged with illegal entry among other crimes. The partnership has also enabled the handling of 2 rape cases and 1 domestic violence case in Sanaa with the help of the International Medical Corp (IMC) and GBV lawyers. The partnership has also enabled the UNHCR and InterSos to 93 vulnerable individuals that had specific needs. The Commission has also registered 229 cases of refugees that seek financial assistance. Towards addressing the educational needs of the individuals, the UNHCR has partnered with the Millennium Development Foundation (MDF) to offer counselling programs to families having children with specific needs. The MDF also offers recreational activities and educational services to children such as stories, games, Arabic and English classes and drawing (UNHCR 2015). The advocacy effort of the UNHCR has also included IDPs in the Kharaz camp and other urban areas in the national Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) for polio, rubella and measles. The immunisation programme targets infants and children aged at most 15 years. By so doing, the UNHCR intended to attain its health objectives. With regard to food security and nutrition, the Commission in conjunction with the WFP delivered rations of sugar, rice, oil and pulse that would serve the Yemen refugees for 2 months. The Commission also delivered a solution to the transport constraint that had delayed the delivery of the wheat portion to the camp. The Commission has also portrayed action and progress in shelter and NFIs. Ever since the conflict started in March, the UNHCR has provided humanitarian aid to 12,545 families that translate to 79,786 individuals. On the 8th to August 2015, the UNHCR partnered with the Yemen Red Crescent (YRC) in the distribution of emergency relief items to 822 individuals emanating from 104 families located in Amran (UNHCR 2015). On the 9th of August, the UNHCR also partnered with the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in the distribution of emergency relief items to 526 individuals of 73 families located in Sanaa. In regard to logistics, the UNHCR has delivered a total of 60,000 mattresses out of the order of 327,000 pieces. Recommendations and Action Points From the findings of the team regarding the situation on the ground, it was imperative to improve the security situation in the camps so as to deal with the emerging criminality in the camps. Moreover, the aid workers from the UKAID, USAID and other agencies should prioritise their actions to enhance the delivery of humanitarian assistance. The team also noted increasing criminality to be a result of the slackened security system. Therefore, it is proper for the UNHCR to tighten security especially around the perimeters of the camps. Finally, in order to enhance the delivery of peacekeeping and aid services to the refugees, returnees and migrants, it is proper to integrate more language interpreters to enable the effective delivery of services by the foreign peacekeeping and aid individuals. Conclusion The UNHCR has played a significant role in providing humanitarian aid and material assistance to returnees, migrants and refugees in Yemen. The Commission has endeavoured to protect asylum-seekers and refugees from facing charges of illegal entry and other crimes, gender-based violence, rape cases and other contentious issues. The Commission has also counselled the individuals on specialised care services. The UNHCR has also partnered with the MDF to provide basic education to children. Moreover, it has partnered with the EPI to immunise children against polio, rubella and measles. The Commission has also partnered with the YRC to distribute emergency relief items to the refugees and asylum-seekers. Reference List Baron, A 2015, ‘Civil War in Yemen: Imminent and Avoidable’, Policy Memo. Cordesman, A H 2015, ‘Yemen and Warfare in failed states’, Centre for Strategic and International Studies. Crisp, J, Kiragu, E & Tennant, V 2007, ‘UNHCR, IDPs and humanitarian reform’, Forced Migration Review, vol. 29, pp.12-14. Feller, E 2006, ‘UNHCR’s Role in IDP Protection: Opportunities and Challenges’, Forced Migration Review, pp.11-14. Garrett, T 2011, ‘Yemen President Ali Abdullah Saleh loses grip on several provinces’, the Los Angeles Times. Ginny H 2011, ‘Yemen unrest: Saleh’s rivals enter elite power struggle’, BBC News. International Crisis Group (ICG) 2015, ‘Yemen at War’, Crisis Group Middle East Briefing No. 45. International Organisation for Migration (IOM) 2015, ‘Yemen Situation: Regional Refugee and Migrant Response Plan’. International Organisation for Migration (IOM) 2016, ‘IOM, UNHCR Joint Statement on Yemen Crisis’. Salisbury, P 2014, ‘Tensions soar at southern Yemen protest camp’, Al Jazeera English. Salisbury, P 2015, ‘Yemen and the Saudi-Iranian Cold War’, Research Paper. Sharp, J M 2015, ‘Yemen: Civil War and Regional Intervention’, Congressional Research Service. Turk, V 2001, ‘UNCHR's Supervisory Responsibility’, vol. 14, pp.135. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) 2009, ‘UNHCR policy on refugee protection and solutions in urban areas’, Geneva: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) 2015, ‘Refugee and Protection and Durable Solutions in the Context of International Migration and Development’, Geneva: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) 2015, ‘UNHCR Position on Returns to Yemen’, Geneva: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) 2015, ‘Yemen Situation: UNHCR Regional Update #18, 6-12 August 2015’, Geneva: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) 2015, ‘Yemen Situation: UNHCR Regional Update #17, 30th July-5th August 2015’, Geneva: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) 2015, ‘Yemen Situation: UNHCR Regional Update #34, December 2015’, Geneva: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Yemen Humanitarian Country Team (YHCT) 2015, ‘2014-15 Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan’. Read More