“Due to the war in our hometown, we were compelled to escape. I was concerned about finding shelter, water, food, and a means of livelihood; the thought of my children’s well-being made me extremely anxious.”
— Fawzia.
Yemen is one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises.
The 9th anniversary of the beginning of the civil war there takes place on 16th September 2023.
More than 21.6 million people- that's two-thirds of the population- need humanitarian assistance and protection due to the conflict. Most of the millions of people forced to flee their homes are women and children.
“Thankfully, Oxfam provided me with a financial grant that enabled me to acquire livestock. I invested in a male goat and four females. With proper care, they multiplied, proving to be a critical asset for my family.”
Oxfam has been working in Yemen for the past 30 years. We work with a local partner, the Ability Foundation to support vulnerable people with cash transfers. This work is carried out through a community centre and mainly supports women displaced by war. Over 500 people have benefitted from this project.
Oxfam is also helping by providing displacement kits which supply shelter, clothing, food vouchers, water purification tablets, sanitary towels and other items.
As a result of the war, one in every two people - primarily women and girls – are just one step away from famine.
76% of people who have been displaced are women and children.
It is estimated that 3 million women and girls are at risk of gender- based violence.
There was an increase of more than 63% in incidents of violence against women during the first two years of the conflict.
Girls as young as 10 years old are being married off, such is the desperation to reduce family size and create a source of income to ensure the rest of the family survives.
80% of the population has limited access to food, drinking water and healthcare- Yemen is one of the world’s most food-insecure countries.
In some regions in Yemen, people do not have enough water and must ration the water they buy from vendors, as it is so expensive. To address this, Oxfam built a desalination plant in one of the affected regions. It is powered by solar panels and wind energy. This gives families access to water for drinking and cooking. There is also a safety benefit, as women and girls are the main water collectors Having water close by means that they don’t have to travel to unsafe areas to get water.
The people of Yemen desperately need all sides to be willing to work together and bring lasting peace.
“Due to the war in our hometown, we were compelled to escape. I was concerned about finding shelter, water, food, and a means of livelihood; the thought of my children’s well-being made me extremely anxious.”
