Four out of every five people in Yemen live in multidimensional poverty (UNDP). This crisis is largely caused by the ongoing civil war, the struggling economy, and several recent natural disasters.
Yemen’s crisis
Yemen’s civil war began in 2015, although unrest started brewing several years before. The primary factions in this war are a rebel militant group known as the Houthis, and Yemen’s internationally recognized government. Neighboring countries back these enemy sides.
Fragile hopes of peace arose in Yemen in recent years as warring sides held peace talks, truces, and prisoner swaps. But peace has not come, and violence continues in this war-weary country.
Yemen’s battered economy is even more lethal than its frontline violence. Some of Yemen’s largest revenue sources, oil and natural gas exports, have been severely crippled by conflict, further deteriorating the country’s economy. Many Yemenis simply cannot afford food, water, and medicine.
On top of Yemen’s violence and economic woes, natural disasters like floods have worsened living conditions, especially for those in refugee camps.
CAM’s response in Yemen
Through contacts, CAM is responding to this crisis in several ways. One is by providing food parcels for vulnerable Yemeni families. These parcels include 100 pounds of flour, 20 pounds of rice, 2 pounds of salt, oil, cans of beans, and hygiene items.
We also have the opportunity to ship containers of assembled hygiene kits, school kits, layette bundles, and other aid like clothes and comforters.
Fatima,* a widowed mother living in a refugee camp with her seven children said, “The living conditions are difficult, and the prices of all commodities like food, water, and clothing keep going up. . . . Whatever money we are able to scrape together is never enough to pay for even our most basic needs.”
She explained further, “Since the death of my children’s father four years ago, I have not been able to buy them clothes, and rarely do we have any kind of soap.” Fatima and her family were delighted to receive clothes and hygiene kits and expressed their gratitude to the distribution team and all involved in getting this relief to them. She said this distribution, “has brought joy to my heart and my children’s hearts.”
CAM also provides water systems for Yemenis. Many people in Yemen lack clean water sources, increasing their risk of sickness. Others must travel long distances to a well, taking time away from their jobs or school. Approximately 17.4 million Yemeni people require support to meet their basic water, sanitation, and hygiene needs (UN). Through supporters’ contributions, CAM is privileged to help provide clean water sources for people through systems that collect and filter rainwater for everyday use.
Please pray that God’s peace would fill the hearts of the many suffering Yemeni people.
*Name changed to protect identity
AT A GLANCE
• 4 out of 5 Yemenis live in poverty • Yemen’s civil war has raged since 2015 • 17.4 million Yemenis cannot meet their basic water, sanitation, and hygiene needs on their own
