Yemen has endured more than 9 years of conflict, which has left the country grappling with one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
An estimated 4.5 million people – 14 per cent of the population – are currently displaced, according to the United Nations. The majority of these families and individuals have been forced to relocate multiple times over the years in a search for safety and stability.
Yemen’s economy is in tatters, with unemployment on the rise and skyrocketing prices placing even basic items out of the reach of many families.
The spectre of famine hangs over the country, as hunger and malnutrition rob children of their futures and their lives. Meanwhile, fewer than half of Yemen’s health facilities are working, and many are struggling to cope without suitable equipment or materials.
17.6 million people are experiencing food insecurity, with nearly half of all children suffering from moderate to severe stunting. Nearly 80% of the population live below the poverty line, while 2.7 million women and 5 million children under 5 will require treatment for acute malnutrition this year.
A lifeline to Yemen’s vulnerable children
Despite the desperate situation, there are glimmers of hope in the stories of Yemen’s resilient people.
Islamic Relief’s Orphan Sponsorship Programme has been supporting vulnerable children and their families in Yemen since 2006. Throughout the crisis, it has been – and continues to be – a lifeline to families enduring hardship.
Amal is a 23-year-old pharmacy student living in Sana’a. At 14, she became enrolled in the Orphan Sponsorship Programme after a neighbour made her mother aware of it.
Amal was only 3 years old when her father passed away, after a 15-year struggle with epilepsy. He devoted his life to serving in a governmental sector at the Road Authority and supported his family through this work.
After his death, the family struggled to make ends meet and lived in a small room, which Amal shared with her siblings and cousins.
The stipend provided by the Orphan Sponsorship Programme not only enabled Amal to pay for notebooks and other school materials, but also motivated her to continue her education. Amal’s determination and perseverance led her to excel academically and become one of the highest performing students at her school.
As her studies continued, the expenses of university seemed insurmountable and threatened to jeopardise Amal’s dreams of studying medicine. Amal reached out to Islamic Relief, seeking our continued support and we agreed to continue sponsoring her so that she could pursue a degree in pharmacy.
“The support of Islamic Relief-Yemen and my mother’s sacrifices have given me the determination to excel and become a role model,” Amal says.
“I am sincerely grateful to my sponsor for enabling me to continue my education… words can’t express my gratitude”.
Hope for the future in difficult times
As she nears the end of her degree, Amal’s ambitions have grown. She is excited to pursue a master’s degree and become an example to others like her.
“The sponsorship programme is a lifeline for orphans, preventing them from becoming homeless or engaging in child labour,” Amal says. “Being able to pursue my dreams of studying medicine is a testament to the impact the programme has in transforming lives.
“Seeing other fathers supporting their children with school supplies made me yearn for the support of a father.”
Amal describes the programme as a surrogate father and recognises that without the stipend she would have been unable to continue her studies and may have been forced to marry while still a child. The programme’s support is lifechanging, particularly in a country undergoing crisis, where so many children’s futures are at stake.
“Islamic Relief’s sponsorship has provided us with hope and a future, even in the most difficult times.”
More than 2 decades of unwavering support
Islamic Relief has been supporting and empowering the people of Yemen since 1998 and strengthened our programming following the escalation of the conflict in 2015.
We work with the World Food Programme (WFP) to distribute food and cash vouchers across the country, helping to ensure almost 2 million people have enough to eat.
However a lack of funding has forced the WFP to stop its general food distributions in northern Yemen, which were a crucial lifeline for 9.5 million people. The WFP malnutrition prevention programme has also been suspended, further depriving individuals of critical services.
Islamic Relief is supporting healthcare centres to tackle malnutrition, boosting the treatment of children and pregnant women, as well as providing supplementary feeding to children under 5, pregnant and lactating women.
We enhance water supply systems, construct latrines, provide hygiene kits and awareness raising campaigns to improve the lives of communities.
And through our Orphan Sponsorship Programme, we support thousands of children like Amal to stay in school and forge a brighter future for themselves and their families.
Islamic Relief is committed to supporting the people of Yemen to weather crisis and rebuild their lives. Please help us to continue this vital work. Donate to our Yemen Emergency Appeal now.
