Yemen is among the countries most at risk in the world from climate change. According to a recent report by the World Bank Group, half of Yemenis face threats from climate change such as extreme heat, drought, and floods, which significantly affect water and food security, in addition to economic deterioration.
That is why HUMAN ACCESS association, in cooperation with partners, works to reduce the increased risks facing Yemen as a result of climate change by strengthening resilience, livelihoods, and food security, access to basic services, and enabling the most vulnerable segments of society and local communities to adapt and recover.
Breaking the cycle of hunger and enhancing food production
Hunger and poverty are increasing due to the climate crisis, and Yemen has more than half its population suffering from food insecurity.
Thus, HUMAN ACCESS focuses on increasing food availability and access through the distribution of food baskets and ready-to-eat meals, along with other initiatives aimed at breaking the cycle of hunger.
In light of climate change's threat to Yemenis' food, the association supports crafts related to food production, including livestock, which is a major food basket in most Yemeni regions, and helps Yemenis achieve self-sufficiency and adapt to climate change.
Expanding access to drinking water
Investing in safe drinking water and sanitation services is an important step to protect vulnerable population groups from the effects of climate change. Yemen is one of the most water-scarce countries in the world. This problem is getting worse with climate change, which leads to more scarce and irregular rainfall.
Therefore, the association strives to provide sustainable climate-friendly solutions to help the most-needy communities manage water better, including drilling and rehabilitating wells, installing solar-powered water pumps, supplying clean water through water tankers, distributing water tanks, and constructing toilets, to expand access to drinking water and sanitation services.
Sustainable solutions to enhance resilience
Due to climate change and devastating floods that sweep away the livelihoods of many families in various parts of the country, Yemenis are losing what remains of their livelihoods, which deepens the economic crisis and increases the suffering of communities, especially rural ones.
As one of the sustainable solutions to enhance resilience to harsh climate impacts, HUMAN ACCESS implements economic empowerment projects. This includes vocational training in income-generating crafts and providing beneficiaries with the necessary financing and tools to practice the profession to launch into the labor market, earn a living, and cope with the consequences of changing climate.
Response to health crisis and emergency relief
Climate change poses health challenges, which cost Yemen substantial material losses due to the spread of weather-related diseases, and further weakens an already crippled healthcare system.
HUMAN ACCESS's response to the health crisis in Yemen plays a fundamental role in keeping lives alive, as well as preventing an imminent collapse of the health system through an integrated approach that focuses on protecting vulnerable people.
Due to climate change, large parts of Yemen experience heavy rainfall annually, leading to the destruction of homes and infrastructure and the displacement of people.
To address urgent humanitarian needs, the association has accelerated its assistance to those affected through vital and necessary interventions, such as emergency shelter, food, non-food items, and water, to enhance the ability of those affected to recover and withstand climate crises.
A ray of hope and investment in the future
A key component of the association's approach to helping vulnerable people and communities overcome climate collapse is its full understanding that investing in climate is an investment in the future.
Among these beneficiaries is Ahmed Abdullah, 40 years old, who lives in Al-Mahrah Governorate. This is one of the Yemeni governorates that witnessed unprecedented rainfall this year, which affected many families, including Ahmed, who was forced to flee his home and became unable to meet his food needs.
Thanks to HUMAN ACCESS’s emergency relief, he and his family were able to obtain ready-to-eat meals and drinking water. Commenting on this, he said: “I was unable to buy my daily food, and you have saved my life and the life of my family.”
In a special statement, Yahya Hasan Al-Dabaa, Head of HUMAN ACCESS, stressed the importance of these various humanitarian interventions in order to enhance adaptation to climate change, adding: “We seek, with partners and donors, to address the effects of climate change, and we are determined to continue efforts to confront the repercussions of climate change and improve people’s ability to adapt.”
Al-Dabaa continued by saying: “HUMAN ACCESS efforts give hope to hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries in Yemen.”
