Voices
of Yemen
On 16 March, the UN will convene a virtual high-level pledging event for the humanitarian crisis in Yemen co-hosted by the Governments of Sweden and Switzerland.
The primary purpose is to fully fund the humanitarian response in Yemen, where years of conflict, economic decline, and institutional collapse have created enormous humanitarian needs. Ahead of that conference, NRC gives the space to four Yemenis to tell stories about their challenges and the future they hope for their country.
Shuaib Taher, 12, lives in a displacement camp. He misses his friends from home and his former school.
"It took me time before I could go to school again. I started again last year. I’m in second grade now. It's not always easy at school. I have a lot of problems here with my new classmates.
"I’m not very keen to spend more time in this camp. Life here is temporary, and we can’t stay here forever."
"Sometimes I think about my village and our friends there. And this is what I hope for in the future: to be able to return to my home and live with my friends, who I miss so much. I’m not very keen to spend more time in this camp. Life here is temporary, and we can’t stay here forever."
This year, around two million school-aged children like Shuaib were forced to drop out of school in Yemen due to conflict and poverty. This is two times more than in 2015, when the conflict escalated.
Ghadah Abdullah, a mother of four, lives in a displacement camp. She wants peace and to safely return to her house.
"We know the value of peace. We've witnessed battles, fled our homes, and seen people dying.
I fled my home when airstrikes and missiles were falling everywhere. Our house was partially damaged, so I had to leave everything behind.
"There are no essential services here. It isn't a good place to live as my husband lost his job. There is not enough food, no healthcare, and the market is far from the camp. We are here because, at least, it is safe.
"I don't plan to return to my home because peace is a priority, and our home in Taiz is in a dangerous area.
"All we need now is peace in Yemen and an end to this war. It's the only way for us to return safely to our homes."
"I may live in a place that lacks all services, but at least I am not in a conflict zone. No one wants to move out of their house and live in a tent, but it's war here in Yemen, so it is our only option. All we need now is peace in Yemen and an end to this war. It's the only way for us to return safely to our homes. Children, women, men, and all people here have the same hope. It is difficult to live far from home for such a long time."
In Yemen, around 4 million people have been displaced since the escalation of the conflict in 2015.
Two-thirds of the population relies on humanitarian assistance.
Hindeyah Farhan, a mother of twelve, hopes to increase her purchasing power.
"Life is tough nowadays in Yemen. Not only because of the war and displacement but because of the unbelievable increase in prices.
"Things we used to buy daily are now unaffordable. My husband earns 35,000 Yemen riyals ( USD 35) a month, and just 50kg of wheat flour is YR45,000 (USD 45). It used to cost YR12,000 before the war. My husband's salary used to be more than what he earns now, too.
Our main problem is that there is no work, and the prices have increased. We used to buy fruits, meats, chickens, cheeses, eggs, and other things, but now we hardly buy bread, tea, or sugar. We fled the battles, but I feel like the high prices of food and vegetables are what might kill us. Our income isn't enough to buy everything we need.
"If prices decrease, we will suffer less, and perhaps we can forget other forms of suffering."
"I want to go to markets and buy vegetables, meats, and sweets for my children as I did before. It seems that the war will not end, and we will not return to our homes, but I hope that prices return to what they were before the war so we can manage to buy all that we need. If prices decrease, we will suffer less, and perhaps we can forget other forms of suffering."
Ali Mohammed Qaid, 55, is looking for a job to feed his family
"The situation is going from bad to worse. We arrived in this camp as a displaced family in 2016.
"We went through real suffering. Sometimes we only had one meal a day for the family.
"I used to work in a Qat market. It isn't easy to find work here as many people are looking for a job, but fewer opportunities exist. We used to buy food for the whole month, and now we hardly buy enough for the day. Many days we have to ask the neighbours for food. If the situation remains, my five children may suffer from diseases as we live in poor sanitary conditions.
"It isn't easy when my children ask for food, and I can't help them."
"Many things have changed since the conflict escalated. I lost the hope of returning to my house. Now I only hope to get basic things. I wanted to start my own business, but now I only wish to secure food for my family. It isn't easy when my children ask for food, and I can't help them. I don't want to see them in that situation.
I hope organisations and people can help provide us with enough food. Other essential services come second to me."
The stories of Shuaib, Ghadah, Hindeyah and Ali reflect a reality lived by millions of other children, women and men in Yemen.
A disappointing outcome of the funding conference would be a death sentence for some of them.
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