Five families in a two-room home
It was not easy for Mukhtar Maghari, 30, to live far from his home for five years. Home was where he was born and raised, and where he inherited his job in fishing and breeding livestock from his grandfather.
“No one wants to flee their home,” says Mukhtar. “But the war forced us to flee and live in a tent in Al-Khawkha district.”
Mukhtar is a father of five children. When he and his family fled, he lost his job and became dependent on aid organisations and the generosity of strangers.
“I have been trying to return home for years, but it was not safe,” he adds. “I didn’t want to sacrifice myself and family.”
“Five months ago, I heard news that our village was safe, so I ran to make sure it was true. I didn’t hesitate to bring my family back to our home.”
A difficult decision
When Mukhtar’s family arrived at their home in Bait Maghari village, Hodeidah’s Hais district, they found that it was occupied by other displaced families.
“We couldn’t drive them out of our home as we understand the suffering of displaced families and the dire need for safe shelter. Where will the displaced families go?”
“We have no other choice but to share our home with four displaced families until they find another shelter or return to their own homes.”
Mukhtar says that it isn’t easy for five families to live in a two-room house, partially damaged by the conflict, where the shouting of women and crying of children doesn’t stop. But he is happy to help others as he was once also helped.
Due to limited space, the families are forced to split with all women living in one room and all men in the other. Sometimes they resort to sleeping outside where it is quieter. To make the living conditions even more challenging, there is only one latrine for both men and women.
A UN-led nationwide truce that resulted in a ceasefire throughout the country, began in early April and is scheduled to end on 2 August.
“I’m happy that our village is safe now and that we could return home. I hope the whole country will be safe one day so that all displaced families can return to their homes and resume their work.”
No alternative
Murshed Mashhoor, 38, was forced to flee his home in early 2022. Upon arrival in Bait Maghari he found it almost empty of people, so he entered an abandoned home and decided to live there with other displaced families.
“The owner of the home is back now, and he is asking us to leave,” says Murshed. “But we don’t have an alternative. I’m not happy to share the same house with other families, but I don’t have money to rent a home in another area and I don’t have a tent to live in.
“The only choice we have is to stay with other families in the same home.”
Four families consisting of sixteen people are now living in a two-room house.
Murshed used to work as a fisherman but is now unemployed. He is dependent on aid organisations for food and other basic services.
The Norwegian Refugees Council (NRC), with generous support from the Yemen Humanitarian Fund (YHF), helped Murshed and 588 other families with cash assistance, helping them to become more independent.
There are 4.3 million internally displaced people (IDPs) in Yemen, with some facing eviction like Murshed.
The Sheik of Bait Maghari village, Rashed Maghari, confirms that there are around 200 displaced families in the village, some sharing houses with other families. He says that there have been some disputes between families.
Not all owners are happy to share their homes with displaced families, so some displaced families have been evicted and live outdoors,” says Rashed.
“We tried to find some solutions like helping the evicted families with wood and plastic sheeting to set up tents, but that wasn’t ideal shelter.”
Murshed also stated that several families of the village haven’t returned yet because their homes were damaged by the conflict.
“If the homes are rehabilitated, more families will return so we call on organisations and those who can help to provide displaced families with shelter and rehabilitate the damaged homes.”