From food to cash assistance: rethinking humanitarian aid in Yemen

Abstract

Humanitarian aid (HA) is needed in Yemen to cope with the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. However, current practices of distributing aid in the form of food have not had the desired effect; conflict has continued, and war economies are thriving as a result. Thus, this paper proposes the idea of cash assistance as an alternative form of HA. Our empirical analysis of HA in Yemen shows that cash assistance is a more effective and efficient way of distributing aid in comparison to food aid. This is due to food aid being vulnerable to looting by the conflicting factions, enabling funds to be inadvertently captured into the highly problematic war economy dynamic. In comparison, cash assistance targets a wider scope of peoples’ necessities, in a more efficient and effective delivery approach that can be easily tracked by the donors. Cash aid can either be unrestricted, restricted, or conditional. The former allows cash transfer, the second enables vulnerable people to purchase items depending on their needs with vouchers, and the latter links the money distributed with performing a certain task. This allows communities to improve and develop, and it enables individuals to build up their skill sets and have a source of income. This is particularly important for NGOs who are unable to provide the conditions needed to bear their success. The Yemeni people have lost trust in the warring factions, as well as local and international NGOs, due to the lack of effectiveness of current methods of HA distributions due to looting and the risks associated with reaching vulnerable people. Therefore, it has become imperative to restore donor direct HA delivery by providing cash aid as a superior means of food aid in Yemen, to ensure the effectiveness of HA and to improve the lives of those who are suffering, in the long term (This article builds on previous scholarship; see Elayah, M., & Fenttiman, M. (2021). Humanitarian Aid and War Economies: The Case of Yemen. The Economics of Peace and Security Journal, 16(1). This article provides a nuanced and high-quality examination of the conduct of armed groups in Yemen. The analysis of HA in this article “supports the view that it is a significant source of funding for armed groups and consequently that it plays a huge part in allowing the war economy in Yemen to thrive”. Warring groups are often looting HA to distribute it based on partisanship and to sell it on the black market to finance the war effort. They have also attempted to block HA to try and gain control over the humanitarian campaign and receive a cut of the billions of dollars given in foreign assistance. In many cases, HA is distributed through local NGOs that were established by the groups to attract international funds. Others were pre-politicized NGOs that channeled funds to specific regions or particular groups for political and military advantage. It is clear from our analysis that the ability of NGOs to use HA effectively and deliver it to those who deserve it is very limited. NGO’s actions can end up expanding the war economy rather than reducing the effects of war on the poor. Distrust in international bodies and in local and international NGOs has become extremely high among those affected by the war” (Elayah, M., & Fenttiman, M. (2021: p 59)).

NGOs' least‐played role: Bridging between a divided public administration: The case of Yemen

“…Secondly, public support is much needed when an NGO become subjected to incitement campaigns as currently is the case in Yemen, according to several interviewees (Interviews#12,14,15,20). In times of conflict, the lines between political and humanitarian efforts can become blurred, where assistance is used as a tool for furthering interests (Elayah et al., 2022; Warner, 1999). An interview commented that the actions of NGOs can have political implications, as they may be perceived as taking sides in the conflict or pushing a particular agenda, especially when they negotiate between rivalries (Interview#28).…”

“…NGOs maybe inadvertently assume a bridging role as intermediaries within the divided public administration, while continuing their service provision to affected communities and potentially engaging in peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts (Carey & Richmond, 2003; Elayah et al., 2022; Knox & Quirk, 2000; Van Leeuwen & Verkoren, 2012). This role may be less intentional and often downplayed.…”

Blockchain-Based Traceability System for Enhanced Humanitarian Supply Chain Management

“…HSCs rely on donations for their operations and there has been a shift in how donations are made from giving physical items like food, medicines, and clothes to giving cash [21]. Cash donations are preferred as they are easier to make and empower victims to make more choices, thus restoring their dignity [22]. Organisations like the World Food Programme (WFP) accept donations in digital forms such as cryptographic currencies [1].…”