NEEDS ANALYSIS

• In 2025, the Shelter Cluster estimates that 7.5 million people in Yemen are in need of shelter and non-food items (NFIs), with 55% being internally displaced persons (IDPs) and 45% from host communities and returnees. Of these, 69% live in critical or catastrophic shelter conditions, including 1.6 million IDPs in informal sites prone to hazards such as flooding and harsh winter temperatures. The Shelter Cluster aims to target 1.8 million of the most vulnerable people with a budget of $170 million, focusing on life-saving and life-sustaining NFIs, emergency shelter assistance, and sustainable solutions.

RESPONSE

• The Shelter Cluster provided assistance to approximately 1 million individuals, including internally displaced persons, returnees, and vulnerable host communities, achieving 61 percent of the overall assistance target for this year. The activities implemented included flood mitigation solutions, distribution of NFI, ESK provision, winterization support, shelter maintenance and upgrades, transitional shelter solutions, and the rehabilitation and reconstruction of houses. These efforts significantly enhanced the living conditions of the affected populations and mitigated protection risks.

• Shelter Cluster finalized a comprehensive multi-year strategy for 2025–2028 to address the growing shelter and non-food item (NFI) needs in Yemen. The strategy outlines a long-term framework to provide life-saving and life-sustaining assistance while promoting durable solutions over the next four years. It incorporates integrated approaches, including settlement planning, flood mitigation, and environmentally sustainable solutions, while emphasizing protection, gender mainstreaming, and accountability to affected populations.

• The Shelter Cluster developed the Shelter Guideline along with a detailed Shelter Catalogue to support the implementation of emergency and transitional shelters. The guideline includes recommendations for shelter construction, while the catalogue features ten shelter designs with detailed drawings, material specifications, quantities, and estimated costs. These resources aim to standardize and improve the quality of shelter responses, ensuring they are effective, cost-efficient, and tailored to the needs of affected populations.

• The Shelter Cluster, in collaboration with the CCCM,, FSAC, and WASH Clusters, has developed integrated initiatives and coordination documents to enhance the delivery of multisectoral assistance. This includes the Shelter-CCCM Inter-Cluster Matrix, which clarifies roles and responsibilities in IDP sites.

GAPS / CHALLENGES

• The adverse effects of climate change, coupled with limited flood adaptation programs, pose significant risks to vulnerable communities, increasing their susceptibility to extreme weather events and reducing their capacity to recover from such disasters.