Women in Yemen continue to suffer from displacement from year to year, amid increasing gender-based violence and deteriorating services, with the prospect of a political solution to end the conflict that has been going on for about10 years leaving a deep humanitarian crisis at all levels.
In campaign16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence UN organizations draw attention to the gender-based violence faced by displaced women and girls around the world.
UN organizations point out that increasing conflicts and climate crises are leading to record levels of displacement and instability, exposing women and girls to an increased risk of gender-based violence.
According to reports reviewed by "Khuyut", women are among The 18-60 age group is the largest group of displaced people in Yemen, and women are also disproportionately affected by war-related displacement, with an estimated 4 million internally displaced people, more than 70% of whom are women and children, and around 30% of displaced households are headed by women. This compares to 9% before 2015.
Violence against women and girls has been exacerbated by displacement in Yemen, with displaced women and girls, female-headed households and people with disabilities particularly at risk. As poverty and hunger rise, girls are more vulnerable to early marriage, human trafficking and child labour.
Currently, the number of IDP camps has reached more than1,500 informal, unplanned camps in need of support to meet their basic needs, with an estimated 93% of sites housing women, most of whom are pregnant and lactating, and 84% of them housing female-headed households.
Displaced women and girls from marginalized groups or with disabilities struggle more to ensure access to services. Displaced women also suffer from difficulty in obtaining livelihoods for themselves and their families, especially since they are exposed to many health and psychological risks, and even violence and exploitation, all of which are compelling and unfavorable conditions for women to be able to improve their standard of living.
Violence Against Women is Getting Worse
After nine years of war, Yemen remains one of the world's largest humanitarian crises. More than half of the country's population - about18.2 million people - to some form of humanitarian assistance. The country also faces one of the world's most severe hunger crises, with more than half the population struggling to access food. In 2024, an estimated 2.7 million pregnant and lactating women will need treatment for acute malnutrition.
There is also, according to a report issued by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs,OchaLast March2024, more than 4.5 million Yemenis have been displaced, fleeing areas where armed conflict has broken out within the country over the past decade.
Conflict, a deteriorating economy, climate shocks and the collapse of services have cut off women’s and girls’ access to reproductive health and protection services. A woman dies in pregnancy and childbirth every two hours from causes that could have been entirely prevented with access to skilled care – with only one in five functioning health facilities providing maternal and child health services.
Violence against women and girls has worsened, with displaced women and girls, female-headed households and people with disabilities particularly at risk. As poverty and hunger rates rise, girls are more vulnerable to early marriage, human trafficking and child labour.
In addition, since last July, exceptionally heavy seasonal rains have caused widespread damage and displacement across Yemen, affecting around half a million people and significantly exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
Fear of The Worst
Millions of displaced Yemenis are facing dire conditions as the country’s protracted crisis deepens, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) warns, according to the organization’s latest assessment.
UNHCR’s IDP Protection Monitoring Update released last week reveals a bleak picture of the conditions facing displaced Yemenis and their host communities. Data was collected from more than47,000 families in the first half of 2024, providing an overview of the plight of internally displaced persons, returnees from displacement, and members of host communities. A large number of these families are staying in formal and informal IDP sites, reflecting the ongoing displacement crisis.
UN organizations fear that the situation is deteriorating, as a statement issued by the High Commissioner indicates that:85% of these families are unable to meet their daily food needs, and many have resorted to harsh coping mechanisms, such as reducing the size of meals or skipping meals entirely. These statistics reflect a harsh reality in which entire families face hunger on a daily basis.
Despite efforts to improve living conditions, the vast majority of displaced families do not feel it will be safe to return home, given ongoing unrest, scarce livelihood opportunities, and risks such as mines, trapping them in a cycle of protracted displacement.
The crisis in Yemen remains one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, and the country faces enormous challenges even as public attention shifts to other global emergencies. Currently, Yemen has18.2 million people – including 4.5 million internally displaced people – are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. This includes more than 60,000 refugees and asylum seekers, mainly from Somalia and Ethiopia.
A UN report issued in conjunction with the launch of the campaign confirms that16 days that violence against women remains widespread, including in its most extreme manifestation, femicide, a global phenomenon that transcends borders, socio-economic status and age groups
More consistent and sustained global support is needed for countries like Yemen – among the most vulnerable to climate change in the world, and among the least prepared to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of extreme weather events and climate-related disasters, which are increasingly occurring.
Entire communities have been affected by catastrophic floods that hit the Milhan district in Al Mahwit Governorate, as a result of heavy rains and the collapse of three dams. The floods recently claimed the lives of97 people were killed, many others were injured, more than 56,000 homes were damaged in 20 governorates, and more than 1,000 families were displaced. The worst-hit areas include Hodeidah, Hajjah, At Tuwaylah and Marib. Blocked roads are isolating the affected areas and hampering rescue efforts.
Anti-Violence Campaign
In this context, a new UN report issued inNovember 25, 2024, that 60% of all femicides worldwide are committed by “intimate” partners such as spouses or other family members. He stressed that violence against women remains widespread, including in its most extreme manifestation, femicide, a global phenomenon that transcends borders, socio-economic status and age groups.
The report, entitled “Female Murder in 2014,” was prepared by2023: Global estimates of intimate partner/family member homicide of women, UN Women and UNODC.
The available data collected in the report showed that globally,85,000 women and girls were intentionally killed in 2023. 60% of these murders – 51,000 – were committed by partners or other family members.
The report explained that140 women and girls die every day at the hands of their partner or close relative, meaning one woman is killed every 10 minutes. The report is released on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, which falls on 25 November.
A UN official stresses that violence against women and girls is preventable, as it requires strong legislation, improved data collection, greater government accountability, a culture of zero tolerance, and increased funding for women's rights organizations and institutional bodies.
Through the campaign of16 Days of Activism to End Violence against Women and Girls, UN Women will call for renewed commitments, accountability and action from decision-makers.
The 25th anniversary of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is being marked this year with an official commemorative event in New York on Monday that will highlight best investment practices to prevent violence against women, gaps, challenges and the way forward.
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The Link to The Arabic Source: https://www.khuyut.com/blog/violence-ye-wom
