Safe Water Sources Protect Communities from Diseases and Displacement in Al-Hodeida

Hadi is 52 years old and father of five. He tells us about the sad situation he and his fellow villagers are witness to. “We’re exhausted by war and diseases. We don’t have money to buy enough food for our families. Many families reduce the number of daily meals while some others who are struggling more than others, have only one meal a day. The residents are very poor. Most of them feed their children with only bread and tea,” says Hadi.

“The flood is another burden for us. It’s a nightmare which we face every year. Every rainy season, torrential rains as well as floods hit our area. During rainfall, the residents live in absolute fear. Some fear that their houses could be swept away by floods. Some others are afraid that the floods overrun their farmlands. All of us are in a panic because we’re afraid of floods which can attack and damage our water well, which is still the only thing we have for clean drinking water to survive. When the floods come, the villagers try to protect their homes and the water well with fences made of piles of sand. But their efforts go in vain as these bags of sand cannot withstand the strong floods. We feel hopeless. We desperately need help,” says Hadi.

Recognizing the need to improve the living conditions for communities such as the residents in Almarabea village and to reduce their suffering, CARE has, through funding provided from Yemen Humanitarian Fund (YHF), intervened to provide these vulnerable households with four rounds of conditional cash transfer. This assistance aims to mitigate the impact of the ongoing conflict on such poor communities. The members of this community identified the need to protect their well and their homes to be their top priority. A total of 110 households including Hadi’s participated in cash-for-work activity to build gabion walls to protect the village, including the residents’ homes as well as the water well. In addition to having their community assets protected, the inhabitants earned income to provide enough food for their families. To ensure more safety and protection for these poor villagers, CARE has removed the previous unprotected water tank and built a new protected one, taking into account all the necessary measures to ensure that this current water tank will not be affected by the yearly floods.

The inhabitants are beginning to harvest the fruits of this assistance. “I’m extremely happy that our dreams have eventually come true.  At last, we now feel safe. Our village as well as our water well are all protected. We’ve also gained money for a period of four months. We’re able to buy clothes, food, and other basic essentials for our families. Thanks to whoever helps us,” says Hadi.