NATIONAL SOCIETY PROFILE

The Yemen Red Crescent Society is a key humanitarian actor in Yemen, with a well-recognized presence throughout the country. It was first established in South Yemen in 1968 and in North Yemen in 1970, and the two were later integrated as one National Society in 1993 after the unification of Yemen. The Yemen Red Crescent Society has ongoing programmes in health, water, sanitation and hygiene, food security and disaster preparedness and risk reduction. It also provides humanitarian relief to the most vulnerable, especially those affected by conflict and disasters.

In its auxiliary role to the Yemen Government, the National Society regularly supports the authorities to respond to emergencies such as floods, drought and disease outbreaks, and with the transportation of injured people. It works in close coordination with its International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement partners located in Yemen, and those providing remote support.

In 2021, the Yemen Red Crescent Society implemented several interventions across the country, in response to disasters, disease outbreaks, and continued to address the existing needs of vulnerable communities.

These included:

• 2,387,000 people in response to, and protection against, the COVID-19 pandemic

• 578,000 people with cash assistance

• 421,000 people to access primary health care services

• 420,000 people with food aid and livelihood support

• 320,000 people through supporting government hospitals and health centres

• 307,000 people to access safe water by installing water points

• 285,000 people with the distribution of non-food items

• 31,000 people affected by floods and rockslides

• 30,000 people with campaigns on mine and explosive remnants of war awareness

• 15,000 people through restoring family links services

• 4,000 wounded and injured people with first aid and health care services

• 518 staff and volunteers with technical sectoral training

• 525,000 people through other programmes and projects

The National Society’s vision is to be a model response organization within the Middle East region, providing integrated humanitarian services to affected communities before, during and after disasters. It has a clear mission to relieve human suffering, protect human lives and dignity, and respond to humanitarian needs in emergency situations. Its commitment to its role as a far-reaching humanitarian organization is built into its Strategic Plan for 2022–2026, which outlines three strategic priorities:

-Timely, coordinated and effective emergency humanitarian assistance is delivered to communities affected by disasters, crises and climate change

• Community resilience is built and enhanced by delivering integrated services and assistance with sustainable humanitarian response

• The Yemen Red Crescent Society is a strong National Society that engages in effective partnerships and ensures enhanced financial sustainability The Yemen Red Crescent Society will deliver on its mission in the main areas of disaster and crises management, including food insecurity, health and care, water, sanitation and hygiene. The National Society incorporates the cross-cutting themes of community engagement and accountability, and protection, gender and inclusion, into all sectors.

Under its Strategic Plan for 2022–2026, the Yemen Red Crescent Society has set itself several ambitious goals for enhancing its capacity to better respond to the widespread multiple needs of the Yemeni population. The National Society is aware of its limitations, and motivated to strengthen its existing technical and resource capacities to fulfill these goals, with the support of the Movement and other partners. The Yemen Red Crescent Society builds National Society development into its administration and management, and this guides its work overall.

Through its sectoral interventions in emergencies and non-emergency situations, the Yemen Red Crescent Society aims to support 5.1 million households in need of essential goods and services between 2022 and 2026. This will involve the assistance of 30,000 youth and volunteers, and 3,000 Yemen Red Crescent Society staff members providing support in programming, organizational development and administration.