Five years ago, Saeed left his home in Hodeidah, Yemen, due to conflict. He fled with no clear destination in sight, and kept moving from one area to another. Eventually he arrived at his current residence – a site for internally displaced people (IDPs) in Abyan’s Khanfar district, near two lush banana valleys. Today, 411 families live at the same site, many sheltering in makeshift homes built from wilted banana leaves and tarpaulins.
Hope in the valleys
“Water brings life”
“Water brings life,” he says. “If there is water and fertile land in any area, we can use it to plant crops or raise livestock. Some relatives guided me to this area where there are two valleys, and I didn’t hesitate to come.” The valleys and fields mean job opportunities for the surrounding community.
"While farming doesn't bring in a fortune, it provides enough to feed my family. Returning home is not an option, as there are no opportunities there," he says.
However, life in the camp presents significant challenges. The absence of electricity makes moving around at night dangerous, especially for children. Access to clean water and sanitation is another major concern. "We have no latrines, and the lack of sanitation poses serious health risks," Saeed explains.
“Water brings life”
“Water brings life,” he says. “If there is water and fertile land in any area, we can use it to plant crops or raise livestock. Some relatives guided me to this area where there are two valleys, and I didn’t hesitate to come.” The valleys and fields mean job opportunities for the surrounding community.
"While farming doesn't bring in a fortune, it provides enough to feed my family. Returning home is not an option, as there are no opportunities there," he says.
However, life in the camp presents significant challenges. The absence of electricity makes moving around at night dangerous, especially for children. Access to clean water and sanitation is another major concern. "We have no latrines, and the lack of sanitation poses serious health risks," Saeed explains.
Vital assistance brings relief
As a member of the Yemen Displacement Response (YDR) Consortium, and with funding from EU Humanitarian Aid, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) provided Saeed and 25 displaced families at the site with latrines. We also installed street lighting throughout the camp.
In addition, 164 hygiene kits were distributed to displaced families and members of the host community in the area. These kits contained jerry cans, washing basins, soap, laundry detergent, sanitary pads, and other essential hygiene items. Alongside hygiene promotion activities, these kits supported the community and helped mitigate the risk of diseases such as cholera spreading within the camp.
"These improvements have greatly eased our lives," says Saeed. He adds that, thanks to the street lighting, "we can now move around safely at night without fear”.
Saeed's journey has not been without setbacks. While working on the farm, he suffered a debilitating back injury. "My wife and nine children were unable to support me," he recalls.
"Then, a neighbour took me to a doctor who prescribed medicine for me, but I could not afford it. I returned home without medicine, but a family member reached out to NRC and informed them about my situation.”
We responded swiftly, providing Saeed with crucial, cash-for-protection assistance, enabling him to access and afford medical care. Saeed has since recovered and is working again. "Without this assistance, I wouldn't have recovered,” he says.
Saeed was grateful to receive assistance but believes that many others in his area are in desperate need of support.
A call for continued support
Thanks to funding from the European Union, we provided cash-for-protection assistance to 405 individuals. However, many people across Yemen still require vital support and lack access to necessary resources.
Sign up to our newsletter to read more stories from around the world.