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A decade of conflict has left an estimated 80% of Yemen’s population below the poverty line, and over 19 million people in need of humanitarian assistance.
The crisis has created large-scale forced displacement with 4.5 million internally displaced people, most of whom have been forced to flee multiple times.
There are high levels of food insecurity, malnutrition, water scarcity, climate shocks and disease outbreak and as conflict in the region escalates, needs are expected to go up even more this year.
In these challenging living conditions, parents find it increasingly difficult to feed their families, visit a doctor or send their children to school, with the latest humanitarian report citing that 55% of children under five suffer from chronic malnutrition.
Due to the conflict and economic crisis, Yemen’s healthcare system is crippled, with only half of health facilities functioning. The devastating recent funding cuts means that 2,000 of the country’s therapeutic feeding programmes have been closed, increasing the risk of malnutrition and preventable deaths, especially for young children. The World Health Organization reported that Yemen had the highest global burden of cholera last year. According to the UNFA, in Yemen, one woman dies every two hours from pregnancy and childbirth complications, which are largely preventable with proper medical care.
Despite all these challenges, families refuse to give up. Here, two parents from Yemen share their stories, how they are displaced, but not defeated.
Manal's story
Manal lives in a displacement camp in the Tuban District, Lahj Governorate, Yemen with her husband, Omar, and two daughters. She and her family were displaced many years ago when conflict destroyed their home, forcing them to leave their belongings behind to find safety.
Omar washes cars, having to look for work on a daily basis while Manal does housework. The family don’t have any food stored, with Omar bringing basic food home when he is able to find work. Food prices are increasing with conflict and the economy driving prices up. Even shops are difficult to get to; too far to get to on foot, but too expensive to get to using transport.
Food is scarce; a typical breakfast for the family is bread and beans, dinner is whatever remains from breakfast and they sometimes don’t have enough food for lunch.
Life was not always this way, before the war Manal and Omar lived with their families in peace.
“War has resulted in displacement, and now the conditions are no good, and we are living in this camp; we were displaced to many locations and finally now reached here. Before war or displacement, we had enough to eat with three meals, and now we struggle with getting enough food and other basic needs. We hope the war ends, and we can go back home to live in peace.”
The couple’s youngest child, Aisha, is 15-months-old. She was born prematurely at seven months old and admitted to neonatal intensive care. When she was six-months-old she was weak, underweight and emotionally distressed. Aisha was diagnosed with severe malnutrition and was admitted to the Therapeutic Feeding Centre.
Manal told us that they were sad and worried, but that the nurses helped them to stay calm. The treatment brought relief to the family, happy that they could receive support and free healthcare.
Aisha's weight has now increased but she is still receiving treatment so she can fully recover.
Manal received education about nutrition, hygiene, food and breastfeeding. Sadly, Aisha had health issues from birth due to poor living conditions in the camp and Manal didn’t have access to good food or healthcare.
Despite all of these challenges Manal is hopeful for her children’s future.
“I hope we can return to our city, good health for my children, and that my children can live in a safe place and attend school. I don’t want them to suffer more and struggle with food.”
Amina's story
Amina, Ali and their six children fled from their home when conflict destroyed their home. They sold their livestock to get enough money to leave and were displaced many times before arriving at the displacement camp where they currently live.
The family used to be financially comfortable as Ali had a street shop, however after the conflict displaced them, he worked as a motorcycle driver until his motorcycle broke down and he had to resort to washing cars.
The family’s displacement means that work is scarce and they have very little money, sometimes eating just bread and water for breakfast.
“My husband travels to a distant city market to clean and wash cars for a living. We rely on his earnings to buy food each day. Sometimes, he doesn’t earn anything and struggles to return to the camp, as it is far from the market. On those days, we go to bed hungry.”
Amina and Ali discovered that Asma, 11-months-old, was malnourished when a community health visitor conducted nutrition screening at their home. They were directed to a health clinic supported by Concern.
Asma used to eat well and play with her siblings but malnutrition meant that she was sick, had a high temperature and a cough and would no longer play. Amina struggled to keep her milk supply up with so little money and resources which hugely impacted Asma.
“On the day my daughter was born, I lost consciousness because I hadn’t eaten for four days The nurse explained that it [malnutrition] happens if the mother's feeding is not done. Unfortunately, I felt powerless; I couldn't produce milk due to my own nutritional deficiencies, and I had no money to buy milk for my baby.”
Asma's parents took her to the Concern supported health clinic where they were provided with vitamins and nutritional supplements and her health began to increase. Nurses and community volunteers visit regularly and follow up but it is still challenging due to disease in the area and the continuing lack of food.
Despite the enormous challenges Amina faces, she still has hopes for her children’s future
“I hope they can live a normal life without fear for their future and the dangers that come with living in a camp under the threat of continuous displacement.”
Displaced, But Not Defeated
Concern is working with thousands of displaced people across the world, but each one is an individual with dignity, agency, and hope for a better future.
You can support displaced families who are working every day to rebuild their lives. By donating today you can help provide a displaced family with shelter, food, clean water, and medical support.
