After Ten Years of Instability, Families Struggle to Rebuild
After ten years of conflict in Yemen, the country remains one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises. It has been ongoing since the conflict began in 2014, and the most vulnerable communities, including millions of women and children, bear the brunt. We spoke with Anne Garella, our Director of Middle East Operations, to learn more.
Q: Can you give us an overview of the current crisis? What are you seeing on the ground?
A: People in Yemen still lack basic humanitarian supplies and services and those needs are intense and growing. Nearly half the Yemeni population, or over 17 million people, are food insecure. These mothers, fathers, and children go to bed hungry every night. The crisis has been ongoing since the conflict began in 2014, and despite tireless efforts from international organizations to provide aid, the situation has only worsened. The most vulnerable communities, including millions of women and children, bear the brunt of this devastating crisis.
Q: Why are children particularly impacted by this crisis?
A: Since conflict began in 2014, countless children have been killed and displaced by the conflict. Others have been diagnosed with cholera, measles, diphtheria, and other illnesses that could be easily combatted with access to vaccines or basic healthcare. These children sometimes grow up without access to education, electricity, and oftentimes, even food or water. Without school, they have few opportunities to escape the cycle of poverty and cannot pursue their dreams. In any crisis, young children are also the most susceptible to hunger. In fact, 55% of Yemeni children under five face chronic malnutrition.
Q: How are families in Yemen impacted by displacement?
A: Displacement is widespread. Currently, nearly 5 million people have been displaced from their homes. Over 75% of them are women and children. These individuals typically end up in displacement camps or dangerous makeshift shelters, often without any insulation or privacy. There, they face daily uncertainty about where they will end up, or if they’ll ever return home.
Q: Amid these challenges, how is Action Against Hunger supporting the people of Yemen?
A: Despite significant issues with humanitarian access, our teams are working every day to connect people with the resources they need to survive and thrive. We’ve been working in the country with local partners since 2013. In 2023 alone, over a decade after our programs started, we reached over 320,000 through nutrition and health programs, medical support, and nutrition treatment. We’re also providing communities with clean water to prevent further outbreaks. And we’re addressing the invisible crisis: mental health. Every week, our psychosocial team meets with families to help them cope with the psychological toll of the conflict.
Q: Why is psychosocial support so important?
A: After a decade of fighting, many people face unprecedented grief and trauma. Many people have lost loved ones or had their entire lives upside down. But every day, we’re helping people rebuild and move forward.
Our skilled therapists have met with thousands of people and connected them with the resources they need to heal. It’s a long road to recovery, but hope is not lost. Every day, our teams witness the resilience and strength of the Yemeni people.