Years of conflict have displaced millions of Yemenis, forcing many families to seek safety in informal displacement sites where makeshift shelters offer little protection from extreme weather, fire and other risks.
A safer home for Ali's family
In 2015, when conflict reached his village in Bani Dhubyan, Sana’a Governorate, Ali fled with his wife and four children after their community became a frontline. Already relying on irregular daily wage labour to support his family, displacement stripped them of the little stability they had. They left behind their home, belongings, and livelihood, beginning a long journey of uncertainty.
"When the war began, we had to leave everything behind–our home, our belongings, and the life we had built," Ali recalls.
After years of displacement, the family settled in Al-Hamid displacement site in Marib. Like many other displaced families, they initially lived in a makeshift shelter constructed from fabric sheets, plastic, and other temporary materials. The shelter offered little protection from intense summer heat, heavy rains, and strong winds. It also provided limited privacy and security, making daily life difficult and leaving the family constantly worried about their safety.
Through the Norwegian Refugee Council’s (NRC) camp management mechanism, Ali and other community members raised concerns about the poor shelter conditions and the urgent need for safer, more durable housing. Responding to these priorities, NRC, with funding from the European Union through the Yemen Displacement Response (YDR) Consortium, constructed transitional shelters for families in Al-Hamid displacement site. Ali's family also received a water tank and cash assistance to help meet their immediate needs.
"The new shelter has changed our lives," Ali says with a smile. "Today, my family has a safe place to live. We have more privacy, better protection from the weather, and greater peace of mind. My children can sleep without fear when it rains or the wind becomes strong."
For Ali, the shelter is more than a roof over his family's heads. It represents stability and hope after years of displacement. It has provided a safer environment where his children can grow up and where the family can begin to rebuild their lives.
Ali's experience reflects the reality of many displaced families in Al-Hamid. Through the Yemen Displacement Response (YDR) Consortium, NRC, with funding from the European Union, has enabled 217 people to access safer transitional shelter solutions, improving protection and privacy while helping families better withstand the challenges of prolonged displacement.
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