The conflict looms large as the primary driver of Yemen's myriad challenges. The challenges of a large-scale famine, escalating violence, crumbling services, and prolonged displacement are always imminent. Natural disasters and climate-induced events, such as drought and flooding, exacerbate these woes, further intensifying the plight of displaced individuals and heightening existing needs.
Over nine years of protracted conflict have brought the country perilously close to economic collapse, with the economy shrinking by more than half since the conflict's onset. As of 2024, a staggering 21.6 million people in Yemen find themselves in dire need of humanitarian assistance and protection services, underscoring the devastating impact of ongoing conflict on the population.
Yasmeen Ahmad was forced to flee her beloved city of Al Hudaydah with her family, Yasmeen's journey reflects the harsh realities faced by countless Yemenis displaced by conflict. "After we lost our home in Al Hudaydah due to the conflict, we found ourselves in Lahj, 450 kilometers away," shares Yasmeen.
Living between the dunes, relying on the kindness of strangers for survival, we faced the stark reality of displacement.
/ Yasmeen, displaced woman in Lahj
"For us, a home was all we needed – a space where we could feed and protect our children," shares Yasmeen. "The relief of providing for my children's needs, especially a safe and secure home, lifted a heavy burden off my shoulders."
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC), as the host of the Cash Consortium of Yemen (CCY) with funding from the European Union has been providing Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) to vulnerable families like Yasmeen's.
Through DRC's outreach efforts, Yasmeen and her family, classified as one of the most vulnerable families with humanitarian needs, became eligible for CCY's cash assistance. The multi-purpose cash assistance provided a lifeline, enabling them to purchase shelter materials and enhance the place they took as their home – a symbol of security and stability amidst uncertainty, “The first thing I did with the cash assistance was buying wood, to slowly build our house here, a home where my children will feel secure, protected and away from the dust, when it rains now, it bour all over us with no ceiling”.
Buying shelter materials and building a house is essential, but that was not the only thing Yasmeen used the cash assistance for. Like 95% of the CCY beneficiaries, she spent part of the assistance on food stock purchases.
"What we have built may not be a mansion, but it's our sanctuary," says Yasmeen. "I am grateful to the European Union for funding this project, and to DRC for extending their hand in our time of need. With this assistance, our lives are taking a turn for the better."