Japan and FAO in new agreement to fight food insecurity and malnutrition

12 March 2019, Cairo - The Government of Japan has availed USD 892 857 in new funding to fight acute food insecurity and malnutrition in Yemen. The one-year project targets the most vulnerable food-insecure households as well as people affected by the conflict.

"Yemen remains the world's largest humanitarian crisis. The conflict has devastated the country and led to widespread food insecurity and malnutrition. This new funding will boost the production, availability and access to nutrient- and protein-rich food for 2 900 families", said Salah Hajj Hassan, FAO Representative to Yemen.

The Embassy of Japan in Yemen noted its concern about the humanitarian situation in the country. They reiterated the determination of Japan and its people to step up efforts to ease the suffering of the Yemeni people. One of the main pillars of focus is to strengthen food and nutrition security.

Food and nutrition security has continued to deteriorate in the country since conflict erupted almost four years ago. The recent Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report (December 2018), warned that nearly 16 million people needed urgent assistance, despite the enormous efforts of humanitarian actors in the country. This number is equivalent to 53 percent of the population. Without humanitarian support, this figure could go up to over 20 million people, with a significant number of them on the brink of famine.

The project will be implemented in two governorates (Ad Dhale'e and Ibb), both regions in need of urgent help. It will target communities that have been forced to flee their lands and the resident families who are hosting them. It will also assist communities who had previously fled under duress and have recently come back home.

Crisis decimates local poultry sector

Livestock plays a crucial role in ensuring food and nutrition security and also acts as a safety net for vulnerable populations, even in times of crisis. Before the conflict, 75 percent of poor rural families in Yemen relied on livestock. Following the crisis, the poultry sector has been decimated. Exacerbating the problem is the unabated spread of animal diseases, high costs of vaccines and other inputs, as well as a general shortage of poultry feed.

A needs assessment led by FAO revealed that livestock production is an important source of income for households in both targeted governorates. It went further to emphasize the essential role played by poultry backyards. Consumption of eggs or chicken meat, it noted, provides families with vital daily protein needs.

This project will be linked to other interventions on nutrition and food security (treatment of malnourishment and food distribution) and implemented in collaboration with other United Nations agencies.

The same beneficiaries will then receive a comprehensive assistance package of both short-term help and the means to sustainably address nutritional and food security problems. The farmers will be trained on good practices in managing backyard chicken farms. They will also receive poultry packages, which include feed and live chicken.

Many people have exhausted their coping mechanisms since the onset of the conflict. This project will boost the communities' shock coping mechanisms while diversifying their livelihood sources. It will ensure they are equipped with sustainable solutions while strengthening their self-dependence in sourcing nutritious food.