Displacement and hope: Ali's quest for security and stability
Abdullah Ahmed/ DRC
Posted on 07 Aug 2024
The conflict in Yemen began in 2015 and continues to this day, leading to a deteriorating quality of life for millions of Yemenis. The suspension of salaries has significantly impacted livelihoods, resulting in the displacement of many who struggle to meet basic needs such as food, clean water, and healthcare. Millions of Yemenis are still seeking ways to live with dignity amidst dire circumstances.
Ali's story
Ali, from the Taiz Governorate, is a father of three . He used to have a home and livestock, sustaining his life through agriculture. However, on a fateful day, violence and threats engulfed his region, leading to an explosion near his home that caused a fire. The area became unsafe due to landmines, forcing him and the entire community to flee. Ali recounts, "Under the threat of arms, we were ordered to leave the area, leaving everything behind, walking for an hour under the burning sun, thirsty and starving, just to save our lives."
Ali fled from As-Salif to Hays, a distance of 211 kilometers. After an hour of continuous walking, he with his family found a vehicle that took them to Al Sunna Camp in Hodaydah, where his siblings and relatives had previously fled.
Under the threat of arms, we were ordered to leave the area, leaving everything behind, walking for an hour under the burning sun, thirsty and starving, just to save our lives.
/ Ali, a displace man in Hodaydah
Life in displacement
Ali was compelled to restart his life facing an unknown future. He says:
"We left everything we owned, just looking for safety."
Upon reaching Hays, Ali stayed at his brother's emergency shelter for a week until he found a new place to stay. Community committees in the area collaborated and registered Ali for assistance.
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) provided aid in a previous project funded by USAID, offering him a shelter and non-food items to help with this shift in his life.
Previously relying on agriculture and livestock, Ali now collects firewood and plastic cans to earn a daily wage, ranging from 500 to 1000 Yemeni Rials (Around .5 USD in De-Facto Authority (DFA) areas). This small amount of money helps him buy some vegetables for his family, leaving him uncertain about finding food for the next day. Ali says:
"I do not dwell on the future; I live for today and focus on what I can achieve today only. I believe that God will ease the challenge, so I don't pay much attention to the future."
DRC intervention
Within a short period in his displacement, Ali was included in cash assistance, receiving 240,000 Yemeni Rials (Around 126 USD in DFA) for three months.
This aid supported Ali in improving his living and enabled him to buy essential food items. Ali expresses:
"The assistance has positively impacted our food situation, enabling me to buy the necessary food items that will ensure a dignified life for us in the coming weeks."
"All I wish for and seek is life security; without it, we cannot survive."
