Diminishing the Threat of Hunger Through Support to Vulnerable Families in Amran Governorate

“I lost everything I had. I had no accommodation and no work when I arrived in Amran. I struggle to buy basic food for my family. We used to eat one meal a day which caused malnutrition and diseases among my children. I am also suffering from a kidney stone due to the unclean water I used,” says Ali. Yemen imports 90 per cent of its food which makes it highly exposed to external shocks, including decline in remittances and international food price hikes, partially due to the Ukraine crisis as well as currency fluctuations.

Since 2015, many families have considered education an unnecessary expense, choosing to prioritize food. Financial insecurity within families, multiple displacements, distant schools, lack of teachers and safety and security are drivers to increased vulnerability. “I decided not to let my children study in order to avoid the financial burden and to use the money to provide them with food,” says Ali.

CARE provides unconditional cash transfers to support 2,404 vulnerable families in Amran Governorate with six rounds of payments of 50,000 Yemeni Rials (YER) to mitigate the hardships they face and to help them cope with food shortages.

The assistance provided by CARE has had a significant impact on Ali’s life. The regular cash assistance has enabled him to provide his family with food, and he has been able to save some money to build an additional room next to his house. “Our life condition has improved significantly since we received the regular cash assistance. I can provide food such as flour and oil for my family. We now have three meals a day,” states Ali, “I hope this supports continues so I and my family have enough food daily, be able to pay for medication in case of sickness and pay for my children’s education.