UNICEF and UNFPA Lifesaving Mission in Marib
UNICEF estimates that 4.3 million people, including two million children have been forced to flee their homes since the escalation of the war in Yemen in 2015
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“These people are scared and feel frustrated. They had everything in their houses, and now they are forced out and hope for at least some kind of help,” says Entisar Shaiban, one of the Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) field assistants for UNICEF and UNFPA in Marib, Yemen.
Marib has become one of the hotspots of the humanitarian crisis in Yemen caused by a long-lasting conflict.
UNICEF estimates that 4.3 million people, including two million children have been forced to flee their homes since the escalation of the war in Yemen in 2015. Those people have to live in critical and even life-threatening conditions without the essential supplies of safe food and water, hygiene products, or even shelter.
“The situation is very difficult because of a general ambiguity about the displaced people future, access challenges, and prolonged conflict,” says Anas Abdullah Al Moalimi, an enumerator with the International Organization for Migration (IOM). He is part of the team that helps distribute kits provided by UNICEF and UNFPA among the newly-displaced people in Marib.
“These kits are provided by UNICEF and UNFPA. They are distributed to for the people who have recently been displaced and contain hygiene products, food, and clean water supplies,”
Today, over two-thirds of Yemen’s population is in need of humanitarian crisis, including 12.9 million children – nearly four out of every five children in Yemen.
“Some of these families have fled their houses without anything,” adds Anas, “they didn’t even have blankets and can hardly survive without humanitarian assistance.”
Most of the newly displaced people in Marib governorate today are women and children – those who suffer the most from malnutrition, lack of hygiene supplies and health services.
Mohamed Masoud Mohamed Tuaiman, a father of eight who was displaced with his family from Rawdhat Jahm over six months ago, “our life has become very difficult, and we cannot do anything about it. This is war!”, Mohamed sighs. “The situation was very bad for us, and we are very happy that these organizations is providing assistance to displaced people in Yemen. Now my children have food, water hygiene products, and clothes.”
