Yemen

Emergency relief for displaced people in Al Mazraq, Hajjah Governorat

Despite the peace agreement signed between the Al Houtis rebels of Saada Province and the Yemenite government, the sixth war triggered further displacement of vulnerable people Al Mazraq refugee camp. Triangle G H maintained its work (launched in November 2009 thanks to the support of the United Nations agency for Refugees) with the 1,400 households - owning some 19,000 animals – in the camps.

For the humanitarian actors in this area, the stakes consisted in implementing a “combined programme”. On one hand, the programme must continue providing basic services for families lacking the means to return to their villages; on the other, it must help those who wish to leave the camps. Regarding the latter, we aimed to maintain the level of food safety and foster the socio-economical exchanges that previously existed in the villages affected by the conflict.

In partnership with the actors in the field, and thanks to its knowledge of the area, Triangle G H counted the amount of returnees and adapted its work according to the movement of people towards their home villages. It was crucial, for instance, to keep the returnees’ livestock alive, while supporting the families who decided to go home. 
Our strategy was to adjust the aid provided to beneficiaries according to the “communicating vessels” system. Indeed, it is always important not to oppose the dynamics of return, without harboring a situation of dependency on foreign relief which could create a reason in itself to stay in the camps.