People of all walks of life hope for a better future for themselves and their families, working hard to turn dreams into reality. Whether that is advancing in their careers, attaining higher income or getting a university degree, every person has a goal to achieve.
In Yemen, those dreams have for a decade been overshadowed by a daily struggle for survival. The conflict, which marks its tenth year, has damaged millions of dreams and left people grappling with ever-deteriorating conditions.
Dreams of Yemenis have changed after ten years of conflict
While the intensity of the fighting has largely subsided compared to the early stages of the conflict, the economic impact continues to aggravate, with nearly 20 million people -more than half of the population- in need of humanitarian assistance.
The Yemeni Rial in areas under the Internationally Recognized Government (IRG) has depreciated tenfold compared to its 2015 value, leading to a skyrocketing increase in the prices of food and basic services.
Similarly, in Ansar Allah-controlled areas, the exchange rate has declined twofold over the past 10 years, with a direct impact on prices.
In this article, some Yemenis living in IRG-controlled areas tell the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) about how the economic crisis has impacted their lives.
While the intensity of the fighting has largely subsided compared to the early stages of the conflict, the economic impact continues to aggravate, with nearly 20 million people -more than half of the population- in need of humanitarian assistance.
The Yemeni Rial in areas under the Internationally Recognized Government (IRG) has depreciated tenfold compared to its 2015 value, leading to a skyrocketing increase in the prices of food and basic services.
Similarly, in Ansar Allah-controlled areas, the exchange rate has declined twofold over the past 10 years, with a direct impact on prices.
In this article, some Yemenis living in IRG-controlled areas tell the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) about how the economic crisis has impacted their lives.
Sending children to work
Ahmed, 54, has been a teacher for 27 years in Taiz governorate. The father of five children says his only dream now is to resume the regular life he had before the conflict.
“My salary used to be enough to cover all our basic needs, and I was even saving to build a home for my children. Building a home was a family dream, but when the conflict erupted in 2015, I had to use those savings for the costs of fleeing.
All our dreams and plans were shattered. My salary, which was once equivalent to USD 320, is now only USD 30. We're now just fighting for basic needs. I had hoped to see my children attend university, but instead, I've had to send them to work as street vendors and construction labourers to help provide for the family.
There's no comparison between our current situation, with its low income and dramatic price increases, and our life before the conflict. Back then, we dreamed of a better future. Now, our dream is simply to return to the life we had before.”
Farming as a last resort
Ali Abdu, 56, a public servant at the Agricultural Research Authority in Taiz echoes Ahmed’s sentiment on rising prices and falling incomes. To provide for his family, he has resorted to finding additional work.
“Most, if not all, public servants relied solely on their salaries before the conflict. Now, no one can survive on such meagre earnings. It's barely enough for food, let alone anything else.
I did extra work before the conflict, but it was to supplement my income and purchase non-essential items. Today, I'm forced to work as a daily wage farmer just to afford basic necessities.
Farming isn't the best job, but it's the only skill I have, and I've turned to it as a last resort. I'm an elderly man, with over 35 years of service, and should be retired by now. However, the retirement system has been paused since the start of the conflict. I must continue working until I die, or I'll lose my income.
We are living through difficult times in Yemen, and we hope our children won't endure similar hardships. We're aging, and our primary concern is their future.”
Catching up with inflation
Zakaria Hamid, a clothing vendor in Taiz governorate, confirms that the currency collapse and dramatic price increases have severely impacted incomes, exacerbating suffering among Yemenis.
“Before the conflict, I used to earn around 2,000 Yemeni Rial, which was enough to cover our needs because prices were low. Now, even after selling my goods, I find that the prices of new stock have increased. The currency collapse has directly affected our work, since I sell imported items.
We used to be a small number of street vendors before the conflict, mostly those without other employment opportunities. Now, the streets are filled with vendors, many of whom are public servants on insufficient salaries. They used to be our customers, now they are our colleagues.
Our customers often struggle to afford our prices, so we sell with minimal profit, barely enough to buy basic food for our families. Street vending isn't a lucrative business, but it's the trade I inherited from my father, and I continue doing it due to the lack of other job opportunities.”
Preventing the worst
The economic crisis in Yemen has been worsening every year. This year, 19.5 million people across Yemen need humanitarian assistance and protection services, compared to 18.2 million last year.
Without immediate funding to avert worst-case scenarios, millions of Yemenis will remain abandoned, and more will be forced to make impossible choices to survive.
NRC has been working in Yemen since 2012, supporting Yemenis to access basic services. Today we urge the international community to fund the Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan so we can continue providing vital services to Yemenis.
Sign up to our newsletter to read more stories from around the world.