The assessment also revealed that a large percentage of respondents did not know whether their parents ever held a national ID. Despite having lived in Yemen for generations, 42% (160) out of 385 people surveyed reported that they did not know if any of their parents ever had Yemeni national ID. This finding is indicative of historical, intergenerational discrimination and disadvantage. Low rates of access to national IDs prevent access to some services, including importantly to WFP General Food Assistance, which in 2023, reached 13 million vulnerable people in Yemen.12 4.3 Access to other types of civil documentation While access to national ID cards is low among the Muhamasheen, the assessment indicated that a reasonable percentage of persons have access to other types of civil documentation. Eighty percent (80%) (307 individuals) out of 385 people surveyed had different forms of civil documents; 62% of these (189 individuals) had marriage certificates, 25% (77 individuals) had birth certificates and 12% (36 individuals) had family booklets, and 5 people reported having passports. Given that marriage certificates can refer to both formal marriage certificates issued by the court and informal marriage certificates drafted by a sheikh /or imam, the percentage of persons with official documents is not clear. Given that only 86 out of 385 (22%) people have a national ID card, it is very unlikely that 189 people have obtained formal marriage certificates, since one of the pre-requisites for this is to have an ID. Whilst an informal marriage certificate is not as widely accepted as the formal certificate, it can help families obtain access to some services, and be used as supporting documentation, for example for WFP General Food Assistance. WFP announced a pause in food assistance in areas controlled by the de-facto authorities (DFA) in November 2023, and in March 2024, while assistance was still paused, stated that temporary ID cards, issued since 2018 by the CRA, would no longer be accepted13 This highlights the importance of access to the national ID card 4.2 Access to birth certificates The assessment covered access to birth certificates among Muhamasheen children. Of 385 people surveyed, 223 (58%) reported that their children under the age of 16 have access to birth certificates; a significantly higher percentage than adults with access to the national ID card. Seventy per cent (70%) of respondents indicated that lack of a birth certificate affected their children’s right to access schooling. Whilst 58% of respondents reported having birth certificates for their children, 42% of children do not have birth certificates and are presumably unable to access education. Interestingly, more children in the Muhamasheen community seem to have birth certificates compared to their parents. While only 25% of adults reported having birth certificates (reported under section 4.3), 58% reported having birth certificate for their children. This trend could suggest a positive shift towards prioritizing the documentation of children within the community, potentially driven by increased awareness of the importance of birth certificates for accessing services and opportunities, including education. It could also indicate efforts by humanitarian agencies and local authorities to facilitate birth registration for children. 12 Under WFP assistance, 5 types of IDs are accepted (National ID, Election ID, NGO ID (issued by the NGO), Family Card, Passport – Temporary ID cards. 13 Since September 2018, the CRA has issued Temporary Identification Cards for all persons who lack civil documents. While the temporary IDs do not substitute the national ID Card, they can be used as a replacement until a new registration system is installed by the Ministry of Interior and the issuance of national ID Cards is resumed. 7 ACCESS TO LEGAL IDENTITY AND CIVIL DOCUMENTATION AMONG THE MUHAMAHSHEEN IN YEMEN 4.4 Challenges faced by the Muhamasheen in obtaining civil documentation The Muhamasheen face different challenges accessing legal identity and civil documentation. The high costs associated with civil documentation, including transportation to the CRA, photos, blood tests14 and ID fees15 were raised as the main challenge by most of those surveyed (40%) as well as by all KII and FGD participants. Findings from FGDs indicated that female headed households face particular struggles to cover such high costs. Lack of knowledge on how and where to apply for an ID and other civil documentation was given as the second major challenge by 86 of 299 persons (29%). A related issue raised by participants in FGDs was the lack of knowledge of the importance or relevance of civil documentation. Discrimination was the third biggest challenge with 10% (29 of 299 persons) stating that they cannot obtain national IDs and civil documentation because of their status as Muhamasheen. Some reported having applied for ID but said that their applications were refused due to their Muhamasheen status. Participants in almost all 8 FGDs stated that Muhamasheen are discriminated against both within the community and by authorities. Some, however, linked the discrimination to their displacement status and origin (for Muhamasheen IDPs from the areas now under control of the De Facto Authorities), whilst others linked it to their Muhamasheen status and social class. Participants in one FGD in Lahj governorate claimed that the Muhamasheen coming from areas under DFA-control cannot obtain national ID cards, while other displaced people from the same area are able to. This caused them to believe they are denied documentation on account of their Muhamasheen status. However, all 13 participants in KIIs said they believe that the Muhamasheen have the right to obtain civil documentation. 14 For the Yemeni National ID, a blood test needs to be taken first at the CRA. 15 The total cost for an ID is YR 10,000 and for a birth certificate is YR 5,000. ACCESS TO LEGAL IDENTITY AND CIVIL DOCUMENTATION AMONG THE MUHAMAHSHEEN IN YEMEN 8