"We've never experienced stability, living in a perpetual state of displacement from one region to another since our childhood." With these words, Yahya Mohammed (32 years old), a resident of Saada governorate, commenced his dialogue with "Khuyut."
Yahya resides with his family, consisting of nine individuals, in one of the displaced camps in the north of Hajjah governorate. His motorcycle serves as his sole source of income, in addition to some humanitarian aid, which has been gradually diminishing in recent times due to the current state of non-peace and non-war that the Yemeni people are experiencing today.
It is worth mentioning that the districts of Hajjah governorate have received large numbers of displaced people arriving from Saada governorate and from the Haradh and Midi bordering districts since the outbreak of the Yemeni war in early 2015. According to the latest statistics released by the Executive Unit for Displaced Persons, the total number of displaced individuals has exceeded three million since the beginning of the war, distributed across 646 camps in 13 governorates, including Hajjah. The count of displaced people in Hajjah has surpassed 19 thousand, encompassing both children and women, all of whom are in need of humanitarian assistance.
The situation in Hajjah is just a sample of a larger, deeply challenging reality that reflects the extremely harsh living conditions endured by the displaced people in Yemen. This plight stems from the prolonged political and economic conflict spanning nearly nine years. Actually, the parents have become unable to provide the basic necessities of life for their families, especially after delays in the food rations provided by the World Food Programme. Additionally, there has been an interruption of assistance from the organizations concerned with shelter and other essential services that the displaced people in the camps lack.
Haj Abdullah, aged 53, is one of the displaced people who heavily depends on the humanitarian assistance, lacking any other means to sustain himself and his family of 43 members. They share three worn-out tents that do not provide minimal protection against the heat of the sun and the cold of winter.
Haj Abdullah, along with his family, were displaced from Al-Zaher district in Saada governorate to Hajjah governorate. Regarding the challenges and hardships accompanying this displacement, particularly with the onset of winter, he spoke to "Khuyut," stating, "We lack winter clothing and blankets to cover and shield ourselves. What is even more distressing is that we haven't received any humanitarian assistance from any source for over three months. We primarily rely on tree leaves, locally known as 'Al-Hals,' to alleviate our hunger."
"I lost my first home in my hometown, Wadi Abdullah, in the city of Haradh, just days after the outbreak of the war. Subsequently, I was displaced to the Abbs Bani Hassan district, where I built a new house. Unfortunately, as we completed its construction and began to settle, the war followed us after five years. At that time, we were displaced from Bani Hasan to the Khairan Al-Mahraq area. However, this time, the war didn't just take my house; it took my father and scattered the rest of my family."
Displacement Occurred in Stages
Hasan Halesi, aged 30, was also displaced from Saada to Hajjah with his nine children. He confirmed to “Khuyut” that he is currently living with his family in a single tent, sharing the hardship while waiting for any humanitarian assistance that would enable them to survive. Due to their inability to find enough to eat, Halesi found himself compelled to send his son, who has not yet reached fifteen years of age, to travel illegally to Saudi Arabia, the neighboring wealthy country, hoping that it would help him provide the basic necessities of life. Similarly, due to the conditions faced by displaced individuals in Hajjah, many fathers migrated illegally to Saudi Arabia, seeking jobs that might not be suitable for their ages to provide a decent life for their families. This was confirmed by the displaced person, Mohammed Ali, who said: "My debts to one of the merchants reached one million and two hundred thousand Yemeni rials during the current year 2023. The merchant had to suspend my account, which, in turn, led us to have only one meal a day. We even resorted to eating the tree leaves; a situation I found unbearable. Consequently, I traveled to Saada to engage and work in smuggling qat to Saudi Arabia, despite the risks involved, a decision that I might pay for with my life." With these words, Halesi concludes his statement to "Khuyut."
In this context, Mohammed Issa, 32 years old, shared his displacement story with "Khuyut" by stating, "I lost my first home in my hometown, Wadi Abdullah, in the city of Haradh, just days after the outbreak of the war, particularly on March 31, 2015. Subsequently, I was displaced to the Abbs Bani Hassan district, where I built a new house. Unfortunately, as we completed its construction and began to settle, the war followed us after five years, exactly on the same date, March 31. At that time, we were displaced from Bani Hasan to the Khiran Al-Mahraq area. However, this time, the war didn't just take my house; it took my father and scattered the rest of my family."
Actually, the displaced in Hajjah aren't yearning for the return to their homes as much as they are craving a meal to revive their weary bodies. This is how dreams have withered and dwindled, as Isa articulates: "Even if Haradh were reconstructed—which is an aspiration distant and elusive—who will resurrect our father and the memories of a once-unified family? The compensation isn't merely a house; the prospect of return has transformed into a grappling confrontation with a memory teeming with pain and grief."
The Absence of Humanitarian Aid
Securing food is not only the sole challenge for displaced people; the lack of essential necessities such as shelter, healthcare, psychological support, and access to educational facilities outside their camps, coupled with the compounding effects of natural seasonal conditions in both summer and winter; all these factors contribute to transforming the lives of the displaced into a veritable and dire humanitarian crisis."
Additionally, the Al-Mataihera camp, situated in the north of Hajjah governorate, stands as one of the largest camps for displaced people in the region, hosting approximately 1400 families who are confronted with a complete absence of essential humanitarian services. According to Ali Mutie, the camp's representative, who revealed to “Khuyut” about the dire circumstances endured by the displaced people in this camp by saying, ''The majority of families reside in meager tents that do not provide minimal protection against the scorching summer heat and the chilling winter cold, as well as they endure hunger, and some have resorted to selling household items to secure sustenance."
Mutie continued, "We appeal to international organizations and all stakeholders to intervene urgently to save the lives of the displaced. Some families are surviving on just one meal a day, while others, compelled by the dire circumstances, resort to consuming tree leaves, what is known locally as 'al-Halas.' The situation in the displaced camps is nothing short of catastrophic."
In accordance with the Humanitarian Response Report released by the United Nations Population Fund in Yemen in February 2023, it affirms that Yemen is confronting one of the largest humanitarian crises globally. The report indicates that approximately 12.6 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, and nearly 80% of the population is struggling to access essential resources such as food, safe drinking water, and adequate healthcare services. According to the World Food Programme's website, the current level of hunger in Yemen is unprecedented, causing severe suffering for millions of residents. A staggering 17 million Yemenis are experiencing food insecurity, and the prevalence of child malnutrition is among the highest in the world.
Limited Services
Likewise, the health services are almost non-existent and inadequate in the displaced camps. In Aslam district (north of Hajjah), for instance, there are only two health centers in the entire district, along with one mobile clinic providing health services to the displaced.
In return, the central medical center in Aslam has received numerous cases over the last three months. Approximately 40 cases have been referred to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), including eight severe malnutrition cases and seven anemia cases, most of whom are children, along with some elderly individuals and pregnant women, as stated by Mohammed Qaid to "Khuyut," the MSF representative in the area. Qaid added, “The health situation in Aslam district (north of Hajjah) is extremely critical due to the very limited intervention of health organizations, meeting only 40% of the health needs.”
Due to the limited healthcare resources, various diseases have spread in the displaced camps, such as malaria, dengue fever, respiratory and digestive system diseases, and various dermatological issues.
UN Warnings
On the other hand, the Executive Unit for Displaced Persons indicated in a report released in October 2023 that Yemen witnessed the largest humanitarian crisis, with displaced people being the most vulnerable segment of the population. The report revealed that the number of displaced families lacking food in camps reached 49,248 families, while those without shelter amounted to 590 families, distributed across several governorates, including Hajjah. Meanwhile, the Humanitarian Response of the United Nations Population Fund in Yemen in 2023 issued a warning about the potential impact of diseases and epidemics on millions of women and girls. According to the International Rescue Committee, half of Yemen's population suffers from food insecurity, exacerbated by the conflict in Ukraine. The report further added that the substantial rise in food prices in recent years has left over half of the population in need of food assistance, while the depreciation of the Yemeni rial has elevated the cost of imported essential foods.
