As the conflict spread throughout Yemen, many families were forced to leave their homes behind. Amidst this, Ma’rib governorate became a critical refuge for those displaced by the violence, according to a recent press release by International Organization for Migration (IOM).
However, while Ma’rib offered safety, life in a displacement site brought its own set of harsh challenges.
Horia, a mother of four, who once nurtured her children in a village where love and peace reigned. In her community, families built their own homes, grounded in a belief that stability began at the heart of one’s home. Yet, when war engulfed Yemen, her dreams of a secure future for her family crumbled along with the peaceful village they once knew.
When Horia and her children first arrived in Ma’rib, they sought temporary shelter in the home of a relative. For over a year, the two families shared just two rooms, holding on to the hope that they would soon return to their homes as circumstances improved. However, as time passed, the host family’s need for space grew and they expressed the need for more room to accommodate their expanding family.
In a desperate bid to survive, her husband sold the last of their belongings. With nothing but a shelter, they relocated to Alnour displacement site, deep in the arid desert. The unforgiving, barren landscape of the camp only amplified the struggles of families already facing severe shortages of basic resources.
With no steady income, Horia believed staying in the camp was a safer choice than risking an unstable rental situation elsewhere. However, the family was still forced to face the relentless challenges of survival in the harsh desert.
As the conflict dragged on, another 700 displaced families found a semblance of stability in the same camp. As more people settled in the area, their makeshift shelters spread further across the land. Many families faced the daunting challenge of setting up their shelters, kitchens, and latrines within strict land restrictions, uncertain whether their homes would remain in place for long.
Amid these challenges, Horia, five months pregnant, stood desperately trying to shield her one-year-old child. Her two daughters clung to her legs as her husband struggled to hold onto their shelter, which was ultimately swept away by the storm.
Despite the dire situation in the camp, the number of families seeking long-term settlement continued to rise. As the demand for land increased, so did its value, with the unexpected rise in costs adding another layer of hardship. Forced evictions became common on the site, creating further challenges for already displaced families.
On a small plot of land where 50 families had built their lives, the landowner demanded that each family pay rent for the land or face eviction. In this difficult economic climate, the families could neither afford the land rental nor find a viable alternative for settling elsewhere.
Once a suitable location is confirmed, IOM engineers work with the community to establish and train a maintenance committee, selected by the residents themselves. Community mobilizers are also trained to support day-to-day upkeep and contribute to longer-term infrastructure planning. This approach helps ensure the site’s sustainability while fostering a strong sense of community ownership and responsibility.
With the support of of EU Humanitarian Aid (ECHO) as part of IOM’s Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) efforts, the relocated families received transitional shelters, non-food items, multi-purpose cash assistance, and vital water, sanitation, and hygiene support. The response was holistic, addressing their immediate needs while laying the groundwork for a more secure future.
For the displaced families, the transition from fear to reassurance marked the beginning of a new chapter. The once-temporary shelters, now constructed on secured land, transformed into a resilient community, giving hope where despair had once prevailed.