In Yemen, 24.3 million people, about 80% of the population, need some form of humanitarian aid and protection. Five years of conflict have left the country with the fourth-largest number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the world. A total of 3.6 million Yemenis were forced to flee their homes in search of safety, 75% of whom are women and girls.
On top of the cumulative effects of years of conflict as well as displacement, economic collapse and disease outbreaks, deadly COVID-19 has been present in the country since April, exacerbating the existing vulnerability of Yemeni families particularly displacement sites.
The escalation of fighting in Al Jawf, Nihm, and Al Bayda governorates, as well as unprecedented floods, have increased the numbers of people moving into Marib governorate. A lack of adequate resources and overcrowding in IDP camps make COVID-19 prevention measures such as isolation, physical distancing and regular hand-washing very difficult.
Minin Al Hadd camp is one of 130 displacement sites in Marib governorate that suffers from a dire lack of basic services including health, water, sanitation, and hygiene. Large amounts of rubbish scattered around the camp and an open sewer expose people to health risks; electricity isn’t stable, and water is often unavailable due to frequent breakdowns of the water well’s pumping system. The camp is far from Al Ashraf district centre, where there is a market and health facility, which reduces IDPs’ access to basic services and jobs.
Despite their four-decade age difference, Saleh and Mohsen share many similarities. Both had peaceful lives before being forced to flee their hometowns, and now both are refugees in their own country, displaced to Minin Al Hadd camp.
Thirty-year-old Saleh was a student in the faculty of commerce at Sana’a University. He was very ambitious about completing his studies in economics and political science, but his ambition was crushed when his elder brother joined the fighting and Saleh and his younger brother had no choice but to flee.
