Methaq, 31, is a father of six. He lives in Al-Rahaba camp for displaced people in Yemen’s Jabal Habashi district, Taiz. Previously, he worked as a shopkeeper in his hometown, but when the conflict reached his village in March 2021, he had no choice but to flee to safety.
The impact of support in Al-Rahaba camp
Al-Rahaba was the first safe haven Methaq reached, where he settled alongside 203 other families. With support from the European Union, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) was among the first organisations to assist him and other displaced families, helping to improve living conditions at the camp.
Al-Rahaba was the first safe haven Methaq reached, where he settled alongside 203 other families. With support from the European Union, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) was among the first organisations to assist him and other displaced families, helping to improve living conditions at the camp.
Lighting the way and reinforcing shelters
Displacement sites often lack electricity and lighting, making it unsafe for families to move around at night. In the darkness, residents are sometimes subjected to harassment. To improve safety and reduce protection risks, NRC installed lighting at Al-Rahaba.
“The streetlights have made the site much safer,” Methaq says. “We can now go out at night, and if someone is harassing others, we can see them. The children can also play outside after dark. Things are very different between our previous site, which was in complete darkness, and this current one.”
To improve shelter security, NRC, installed iron fences for displaced families. A maintenance committee was also established to ensure fence upkeep and support general camp maintenance.
“We sleep in shelters with tarpaulins for walls, and at times these would get damaged or vandalised, leaving us exposed," explains Methaq. “The fence has created a barrier between the road and our shelters, preventing vandalism and increasing our security. Previously, livestock would sometimes wander into our shelters, but now we have better protection.”
Over time, some tarpaulins deteriorated due to sun exposure and harsh weather conditions. With no means to afford replacements, families resorted to using blankets as a temporary solution.
“We needed the blankets, but we had no other choice,” explains Methaq. “Fortunately, NRC distributed new tarpaulins, which enabled the maintenance committee to repair all tents in the site.”
Responding to the floods
The August 2024 floods impacted many families in Al-Rahaba, damaging numerous shelters.
In response, we conducted essential repairs and worked with the local maintenance committee, providing them with tools to help families prepare for future rainy seasons.
“Our primary task is to reinforce the shelters by arranging soil around them and ensuring proper drainage pathways are in place,” explains Methaq. “If rainwater cannot drain away effectively, it will overflow into the shelters. We hope that no one will be affected by floods during the next rainy season.”
Fighting mosquito-borne illnesses
Al-Rahaba camp is located in a mountainous area with dense tree cover, creating ideal conditions for mosquitos. This has significantly contributed to the spread of mosquito-borne diseases within the site.
“Children are particularly vulnerable to these illnesses,” says Methaq. “Before, we couldn't afford mosquito nets. Fortunately, NRC provided us with these nets, and we are hopeful that we will witness a decline in illnesses caused by mosquitoes, especially among the children.”
Improving sanitation
In Al-Rahaba camp, families previously had to share latrines between multiple households. This led to overcrowding, a lack of privacy, and challenges in adhering to cultural norms.
To address this, we provided 56 families with individual household latrines.
“Women, in particular, need privacy when using latrines,” adds Methaq. “Many used to face challenges using shared facilities. Now, every family has their own private latrine, complete with lighting.”
A lasting impact
As a member of the Yemen Displacement Response (YDR) Consortium, and with funding from EU Humanitarian Aid, NRC has been able to support 204 families in Al-Rahaba camp through a range of services. Over 200 families benefitted from the rehabilitation of the water system and the construction of a new water point, and 56 families received new latrines. Fence constructions supported 169 families. Additionally, NRC distributed 204 hygiene kits for flood-affected families, alongside hygiene promotion activities to improve public health.
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