A story of resilience and hope

Saud Jailan, a 25-year-old from a village in Al Hudaydah, lived a life marked by resilience and hope. His family, consisting of his mother, three sisters, wife, and three young children, had always been close-knit, relying on the combined efforts of Saud and his father to provide for their big family. His father, a well-loved employee at a local home appliance store, brought home a modest but steady income that helped sustain their large family.

Tragedy struck when the floods hit their region back in May this year. Saud’s father, who was returning home from the market was swept away and found the next morning in another district. His death left a void that Saud felt deeply, a void that changed the course of his life.

With his father’s passing, Saud became the sole provider for his family. He worked on his motorcycle, offering rides and deliveries to earn whatever he could but often, the income was barely enough to cover the basic needs of his family. The burden of supporting ten people, including his young children who needed milk and diapers, was immense. Despite the challenges, Saud remained steadfast.

“The motorcycle income is not enough,” Saud explained. “We are about ten people and it is not enough for us. There are three meals a day and the kids need milk and stuff. Working on a motorcycle is not enough. It’s a heavy load, but I trust in God.”

Education was another issue to their financial struggles. Saud and his sisters had to stop their schooling after the sixth grade. This was a source of great disappointment for Saud, who valued education and dreamed of a better future for his children.

Despite these hardships, there were moments of relief. Saud’s family received cash assistance from the Unconditional Cash Transfer Project, with which he used to buy essential food items like wheat, rice, and milk for his children. This support helped him manage his household and provided some stability in their essential situation.

To meet the dire needs of the most vulnerable families in Yemen, UNICEF, funded by the World Bank, is providing unconditional cash assistance to more than 1.43 million households, or over 9.2 million people, who are considered some of the poorest and the most vulnerable. The cash assistance is often the only source of income for such families receiving the payment. Saud’s family was among those who benefited from this crucial support.

Saud’s story is one of resilience and hope. Despite the many challenges he faced, he remained determined to build a better future for his family. “I hope that one day, the situation would improve, and I would be able to provide my children with the education and opportunities they deserved.” Saud said. Until then, he continues to work hard, relying partially on the project support to get their basic needs, trusting in God and holding on to the hope that better days are ahead.