Yemen Crisis

Survivors in the rubble

Khalid, 6, walks next to a burnt-out car outside his home in Sana'a city. Since an air attack hit his neighbour's home, Khalid runs and hides whenever he hears a plane approaching.

Khalid, 6, walks next to a burnt-out car outside his home in Sana'a city. Since an air attack hit his neighbour's home, Khalid runs and hides whenever he hears a plane approaching.

Having returned to Norway from war-tornYemen, NRC’s BECKY BAKR ABDULLA recounts her impressions from one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, a country experiencing daily bombings and a complete economic collapse.

"When I first arrived in the capital of Sana’a, it struck me how life tends to carry on, even in the midst of a brutal war. The streets were busy with cars and pedestrians, children were playing. Most shops were open, and I could hear the mullah calling to mid-day prayer from the mosque," recounts the Norwegian Refugee Council’s (NRC) Media and Communications Adviser, Becky Bakr Abdulla.

The civilian death toll in Yemen is extremely high. More than 60,000 people have been killed or injured since the escalation of violence in 2015. 

Becky has just spent two weeks in one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. She was often reminded that she was in a war zone.

"Planes were circling over the city. Time and again we would hear explosions and wonder where they hit. The ceaseless sound of bombers reminded me that anything might happen at any time."

Becky Bakr Abdulla. Foto: Flyktninghjelpen

"In Yemen you see destruction everywhere – houses that used to be people’s homes left in ruins, large holes in the ground where airstrikes have hit and burnt out cars in the streets."

Becky Bakr Abdulla, NRC

On June 5, Abdulrahman, 33, and his family heard a loud explosion outside their house in Sana'a. The neighbour's building had been hit by an airattack. 'We never expected something like this to happen so close to our home. My youngest son still runs to a corner and hides whenever he hears planes hovering over us.'

Muhannad,10, became sick with cholera before his family was forced to flee their home town, Taizz, eight months ago. 'I couldn't even move because of the stomach pain,' remembers Muhannad. His mother Fahria said he was so ill she thought he would die.

On June 5, Abdulrahman, 33, and his family heard a loud explosion outside their house in Sana'a. The neighbour's building had been hit by an airattack. 'We never expected something like this to happen so close to our home. My youngest son still runs to a corner and hides whenever he hears planes hovering over us.'

Muhannad,10, became sick with cholera before his family was forced to flee their home town, Taizz, eight months ago. 'I couldn't even move because of the stomach pain,' remembers Muhannad. His mother Fahria said he was so ill she thought he would die.

In addition to daily attacks and economic crisis, cholera and other diseases rage. Many internally displaced people live in camps lacking proper sanitary conditions, affecting the inhabitants’ health.

Since April 2017, over one million have been infected by cholera. The epidemic has killed more than 2,300 people.

Yusuf,28, lost eight members of his family when an air attack hit their home in Amran city in June. Four among the dead were his cousins, all under 13 years old. The youngest was an eight-month old baby. 'They [conflict parties] are targeting civilians more than each other. This war on innocent people must stop,' says Yusuf.

Yusuf,28, lost eight members of his family when an air attack hit their home in Amran city in June. Four among the dead were his cousins, all under 13 years old. The youngest was an eight-month old baby. 'They [conflict parties] are targeting civilians more than each other. This war on innocent people must stop,' says Yusuf.

10,000 killed

More than 10,000 people have been killed and 50,000 injured since the escalation of violence in 2015.

A boy and a young girl stands inside Al Habbari camp for displaced people in Sana'a city. The settlement is on private land and receives a small amount of support from its owner. Families living here lack basic services, such as showers and toilets.

A group of young girls sits in the rubble of their school in Amran city. The school had been open for only a year before it was struck by an air attack in 2017. Two thousand children were left without education as a result. Photo: SUZE VAN MEEGEN/NRC

A boy and a young girl stands inside Al Habbari camp for displaced people in Sana'a city. The settlement is on private land and receives a small amount of support from its owner. Families living here lack basic services, such as showers and toilets.

A group of young girls sits in the rubble of their school in Amran city. The school had been open for only a year before it was struck by an air attack in 2017. Two thousand children were left without education as a result. Photo: SUZE VAN MEEGEN/NRC

3 million

are internally displaced in Yemen

Abdullah,36, stands in front of the rubble of his former workplace. 'This cement factory holds a part of my life. I worked here for 35 years,' says the laboratory manager. The factory provided 1,500 people with jobs in Amran city. But the plant was targeted by several air raids in 2016. Fifteen of Abdullah’s co-workers were killed in the attack.

Hassan ,5, and his 3-month-old sister, Ratif, were told to leave their home in Hodeidah, where violence has escalated in the past months. Half a million people fled the region between June and August alone.

Abdullah,36, stands in front of the rubble of his former workplace. 'This cement factory holds a part of my life. I worked here for 35 years,' says the laboratory manager. The factory provided 1,500 people with jobs in Amran city. But the plant was targeted by several air raids in 2016. Fifteen of Abdullah’s co-workers were killed in the attack.

Hassan ,5, and his 3-month-old sister, Ratif, were told to leave their home in Hodeidah, where violence has escalated in the past months. Half a million people fled the region between June and August alone.

1 million

Since April 2017, over one million have been infected by cholera. The epidemic has killed more than 2,300 people.

Ahmed (39), sønnen Ali (6) og resten av familien har søkt tilflukt i hovedstaden Sana. Familien kommer opprinnelig fra Taizz, der de drev slektsgården og livnærte seg ved å selge grønnsaker. Familien har vært på flukt i lengre tid og har mistet alt de eide. – Det viktigste for oss nå er at barna får muligheten til å fortsette skolen, at vi har nok å spise og at vi klarer å ta vare på helsen, sier Ahmed.

Abdullah (8) og broren Hussein (2) foran det som er blitt deres nye hjem i en leir for internt fordrevne i hovedstaden Sana. Abdullah står opp grytidlig hver dag for å hjelpe faren med å tjene noen slanter, slik at familien får noe å spise. – Jeg samler plastflasker og plastkanner, som jeg så selger videre, sier Abdullah.

Ahmed (39), sønnen Ali (6) og resten av familien har søkt tilflukt i hovedstaden Sana. Familien kommer opprinnelig fra Taizz, der de drev slektsgården og livnærte seg ved å selge grønnsaker. Familien har vært på flukt i lengre tid og har mistet alt de eide. – Det viktigste for oss nå er at barna får muligheten til å fortsette skolen, at vi har nok å spise og at vi klarer å ta vare på helsen, sier Ahmed.

Abdullah (8) og broren Hussein (2) foran det som er blitt deres nye hjem i en leir for internt fordrevne i hovedstaden Sana. Abdullah står opp grytidlig hver dag for å hjelpe faren med å tjene noen slanter, slik at familien får noe å spise. – Jeg samler plastflasker og plastkanner, som jeg så selger videre, sier Abdullah.

377,538

In 2017 NRC provided food security for 377,538 people in Yemen.

Mohammed (42) og sønnen Muntab (19) i ruinene av en sønderbombet skole i byen Amran. - Hvorfor bomber de sivile? Hva er det vi har gjort? Vi har ikke våpen, vi har ingen raketter, vi har ingenting. Vi er fredelige borgere som bare ønsker å forsørge våre familier og barn, sier Mohammed.

Mohammed (42) og sønnen Muntab (19) i ruinene av en sønderbombet skole i byen Amran. - Hvorfor bomber de sivile? Hva er det vi har gjort? Vi har ikke våpen, vi har ingen raketter, vi har ingenting. Vi er fredelige borgere som bare ønsker å forsørge våre familier og barn, sier Mohammed.

50,930

In 2017 NRC provided shelter for 50,930 people in Yemen.

Nine Yemenis living in this house were killed instantly when air attacks hit last year. Attacks from both parties on civilians and civilian infrastructure are the trademarks of Yemen's brutal war. Tens of thousands of civilians have been killed in the conflict so far.

Nine Yemenis living in this house were killed instantly when air attacks hit last year. Attacks from both parties on civilians and civilian infrastructure are the trademarks of Yemen's brutal war. Tens of thousands of civilians have been killed in the conflict so far.

8,112

In 2017 NRC provided education for 8,112 children in Yemen.

Zaumala (in back row), his wife Waslame (next to him) and their children fled to Amran Governorate two years ago when the war began. Before fleeing, the couple's daughter was killed in an air raid during a visit to the local market. They buried her before they fled. 'I didn't know whether to run after my other children or attend to my daughter,' saysZaumala.

Zaumala (in back row), his wife Waslame (next to him) and their children fled to Amran Governorate two years ago when the war began. Before fleeing, the couple's daughter was killed in an air raid during a visit to the local market. They buried her before they fled. 'I didn't know whether to run after my other children or attend to my daughter,' saysZaumala.

325,951

In 2017 NRC provided clean water and improved inadequate sanitation facilities for 325,951 people in Yemen.

Only rubble remains of a house that was bombed in a civilian neighbourhood in Sana'a city. It was hit during Ramadan on the evening of June 5. Seven civilians were injured, including four children.

Only rubble remains of a house that was bombed in a civilian neighbourhood in Sana'a city. It was hit during Ramadan on the evening of June 5. Seven civilians were injured, including four children.

Becky is impressed by her colleagues who have lived and worked in the conflict for more than three years.

"Many of them have been displaced themselves and live in persistent fear for the lives of their families and themselves. Despite this, they carry on with their daily work to assist fellow Yemenis in need. They live under enormous pressure and the work they do is admirable. I travelled back on a UN flight to my safe home in Norway, while they stay behind and continue the work."


Becky Bakr Abdulla, NRC

This camp in Amran Governorate is home to hundreds of displaced families. Living conditions in the settlement are dire, with no water, hygiene or sanitation facilities. Displaced families live in cramped shelters, and children have visible rashes and wounds on their bodies. Families living here are at greater risk of disease in what has become the world's largest ever cholera outbreak.

This camp in Amran Governorate is home to hundreds of displaced families. Living conditions in the settlement are dire, with no water, hygiene or sanitation facilities. Displaced families live in cramped shelters, and children have visible rashes and wounds on their bodies. Families living here are at greater risk of disease in what has become the world's largest ever cholera outbreak.

NRC in Yemen

In 2017, the Norwegian Refugee Council provided life-saving aid to more than 760,000 people in Yemen. The needs are increasing.