The document that changes the future

Like so many children fleeing in war-ravaged Yemen, eight-year-old Hamza lacked a birth certificate. As a result, he was unable to go to school. But now, his future looks brighter.

A little piece of paper can determine the future of a displaced family. In Yemen, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) helps children to get birth certificates so they can receive vital health care, protection and education – and have proof of their own existence.

When we began working in Al-Mishqafa camp in Lahj, southern Yemen, our team realised just how many of the camp’s residents lacked identity papers.

Before long, we were arranging meetings in the camp, informing its inhabitants about the importance of birth certificates and other ID documents.

Why ID documents are important 

Birth certificates open up a world of health care. They give children access to medical treatment and the vaccinations they need to stay healthy. Every year, millions of children die from preventable diseases before they reach the age of five. Unregistered children are often unable to access health care, or else their parents have to pay a premium fee.

Birth certificates create a permanent record of a child’s existence. They provide protection, guaranteeing children’s legal rights and ensuring they receive what is rightfully theirs.

If disaster strikes and children are separated from their families, a reunion can be next to impossible without proper identification. But with birth registration, government officials can safely unite families and account for every child.

Ruaa Mohammed, Information Counselling Legal Assistance (ICLA) Assistant, and Nuhad Mubarak, ICLA Officer, are explaining child birth certificates to Nour, whose son Hamza received his that day.

Al-Mishqafa camp was established in late 2016 and initially hosted 60 displaced households (approximately 420 people). By 2018 the number of the households increased to 300 (2,100 people), at which time NRC, with funding from UNHCR, began providing cash assistance via its Information Counselling Legal Advice and Protection Programmes. The program further supported displaced families with IDs, supplying 88 people with ID cards, and 165 children with birth certificates.

In November 2018, NRC’s shelter department built 312 shelters and 120 latrines. The camp population is still in need of continuous support as they lack consistent access to food and safe water, and struggle daily with camp conditions that expose them to insects, snakes, scorpions and very windy, dry weather during the summer season.

Photo: NRC — NRC's Ruaa Mohammed and Nuhad Mubarak explain to Hamza’s mother, Nour, about the birth certificates her children received that day. Photo: Ingrid Prestetun/NRC

No birth certificate, no school

Birth certificates also enable children to get an education. With a birth certificate, a child has the documentation needed to attend a publicly funded school. But without it, a child can be prevented from enrolling.

Eight-year-old Hamza has never had a birth certificate. This has prevented him from attending school throughout the years his family has been displaced. But now, his future looks brighter.

After his mother attended NRC’s information session in the camp, she made sure Hamza and his siblings received their birth certificates. Hamza is delighted.

"I want to go to school and make new friends. I want to be a doctor in the future. I’m so happy that I finally have a birth certificate," he says, smiling.