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Yemen

A Right to Belong - Birth Certificates Secure Future for Displaced Children

Ma’rib, Yemen – Yemen, once known for its rich culture and history, now stands as a symbol of resilience amid relentless conflict. After nearly a decade of war, millions of people have lost the stability they once knew, forced into lives of displacement and hardship. As conflict and extreme weather events continue to uproot families, the concept of ‘home’ feels increasingly out of reach.

In the heart of Ma’rib’s Al Noor Camp, resilience thrives in the face of adversity. Camp Manager Abdulraqeeb Al Jaradi witnesses it every day. “The conflict and conditions in our hometown became too difficult to endure, so we had to leave,” he shares. As one of the camp’s earliest residents, Abdulraqeeb has seen wave after wave of families arriving in search of safety and a fresh start.

Each of these families carries the weight of displacement, a profound challenge that tears them away from everything familiar. Forced to abandon loved ones, homes and often essential belongings, they embark on a daunting journey. For many, the pursuit of safety comes at the cost of something irreplaceable – their birth certificates – vital connections to their identity and future.

Without a proper form of identification, families are cut off from basic services like healthcare and education, and their access to much-needed humanitarian aid is hindered. For those relying on cash-based assistance, formal identification has become a critical need.

“We've faced serious issues with not having birth certificates, especially when it came to receiving cash assistance. People here went through so much hardship simply because they lacked any form of identification.”

– Abdulraqeeb, Camp Manager

Displaced and Unseen

Across Yemen, the scale of this problem is staggering – 37 percent of adults lack a national ID and nearly half of all children do not have birth certificates. By the end of 2024, an estimated 9 percent of Yemen’s displaced population will lack access to any form of civil documentation, further exacerbating their vulnerabilities.

Among those facing this reality is Amenah, a grandmother who has endured five years of displacement. With 14 children under her care, she shoulders the weight of securing their future. “Life in Dhamar was too difficult to bear,” she explains. “I have fourteen children and my eldest daughter has ten of her own. There was no way to survive.” For families like Amenah’s, birth certificates are more than mere pieces of paper; they are keys to opportunities.

The absence of documentation has created significant barriers for children trying to access education. In Yemen, where more than 2 million children are out of school, those without birth certificates face some of the toughest challenges.

Muneef, Amenah’s son and a seventh-grade student at Musa Bin Nusair School, recalled his concern when school authorities told him to provide the necessary paperwork. Distressed, he returned home to seek help from his older brother, Basheer.

“I want to become a doctor so I can help people, but without birth certificates, we’re not even allowed to enroll in school.”

– Muneef, Amenah’s Son

Restoring Rights

Basheer noted that many people in the camp are so poor that they can’t afford to obtain new documentation. Without IDs, they are deprived of education, healthcare, and cash assistance, and even face additional protection risks. At checkpoints, they are often held for hours until a community leader can verify their identity.

Responding to these urgent needs, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has stepped in to provide critical support to displaced families. Through this initiative, IOM’s Protection team aimed to address the lack of essential identification documents, ensuring children can access their basic rights. This initiative serves 3,500 children across 17 displacement sites in Ma’rib.

After receiving the school warning, Basheer took his younger brother Muneef and reached out to IOM for support, who helped Muneef obtain a birth certificate. “They visited each household here and provided us with the children’s certificates,” Basheer recounts. “This support has lifted such a burden off our shoulders – it’s truly changed our lives.”

Foundations of Hope

The struggles faced by families in Al Noor Camp offer a glimpse into the complexities that many displaced families in Yemen experience. Birth certificates provide not only recognition but also serve as a vital lifeline. This fundamental right aligns with broader human rights that stress the importance of identity and legal recognition from birth.

For Amenah, having these documents means her children can finally pursue an education and dream of a future. “I received four certificates for my children,” she shares. “I want them to have the chance to study – it means everything to me.”

The impact of this project reaches far beyond providing documents – it brings dignity and a sense of security to families who have been through so much. Basheer plays a key role in this effort: “I assist by checking in on displaced individuals and understanding their needs,” he explains.

“There are elderly people, widows, and persons with disabilities who can’t seek help on their own – it’s essential to ensure they know about this support.”