The last two months were difficult in Yemen, as COVID-19 continues to take its toll — on top of an existing famine and poverty crisis. During the months of March and April, we implemented a variety of activities to meet the many needs of the population. We continue to distribute food baskets and provide support to orphans.

According to the United Nations, an estimated 16.2 million people in Yemen are struggling to get enough food and 5 million are at risk for severe famine, 400,000 of which are children. David Beasley, Chief of the World Food Program visited Yemen in March and made a horrifying statement about the state of hunger in Yemen: “Every 75 Seconds, a child dies from Starvation in Yemen.”

A recent New York Times article summarizes the dire circumstances:

“The war has led to chronic food shortages in what was already the Arab world’s poorest country. A widespread famine was averted in 2018 only by a large influx of foreign aid. But the threat is greater this time, aid groups say, as the war grinds on, families grow poorer and the coronavirus pandemic has left donor nations more focused on their own people.

‘The famine is on a worsening trajectory,’ said David Beasley, the executive director of the World Food Program, in an interview after returning recently from Yemen. ‘Our biggest problem now is lack of money — and the war. Six years of war has completely devastated the people in every respect.'”

In March we implemented a variety of projects including food baskets distribution, sponsoring orphans, providing water tanks, providing vocational training to older Orphans, income generation projects, medical assistance and meat distributions. In April, we focused on Ramadan Food baskets distribution and orphans sponsorship.

Distributing food baskets in Yemen

In March, we reached 2,370 families with food baskets to sustain them for one month, serving 16,950 individuals throughout Yemen including, Sana’a, Hajjah, Aden, Lahj, Taiz, Hodeidah, Aljawf, Ibb, Dhamar, Albaydha, and others.

In April, we distributed 5,334 food baskets — serving over 37,000 people and sustaining them for one month. We distributed food baskets across the country — including multiple areas in each of the following governorates: Aden, Sana’a, Amran, Almahweet, Aljwf, Dhamar, Hodeidah, Hajjah, Ibb, Lahj, Raymah, Taiz, and more.

Providing financial support and Vocational training to orphans in Yemen

Roughly 1.1 million children in Yemen are orphaned and require financial support for essential items such as food, clothing, and school costs. In each of the months of March and April, we supported 606 orphaned children by providing them with financial support. We also supported 25 older orphans in vocational training Center for computer literacy that will help them use the computers proficiently.

Launching income generation projects and distributing meat

Yemen is experiencing the World’s Humanitarian Crisis, with more 50 percent of the population poverty rate.  A recent UN report indicated that over half of Yemen’s 30 million are experiencing food insecurity in 2021. In Zabid, Hodeidah, one of the poorest areas in Yemen, 10 families received sheep for income generation, and 121 internally displaced Families received meat.

Providing medical assistance to centers for the blind

More than 80% of Yemen’s 30 million population lacks food, fuel, drinking water and access to health care services, which makes it particularly vulnerable to diseases that can generally be cured or eradicated elsewhere in the world. Only half of the health care system is operational due to the war and majority of people lack access to medicine or funds to purchase medicine that is too expensive given the restrictions of imports and the economic ctisis.

We provided eye medication to 2 centers for the visually impaired in Sana’a serving 520 children, the medications will last them for one month .

Building water tanks and water trucking

18 million people in Yemen lack access to clean of water, sanitation, and hygiene assistance, placing them at higher risk of water borne diseases and outbreaks, including cholera. Access to clean and safe drinking water remains crucial for the health and survival of children and their families.

We provided 3 poor neighborhoods in Sana’a — with mostly internally displaced families and no water access — large water tanks and a commitment to provide daily clean water to 1,500 people.

Thanks for supporting our aid efforts in Yemen

Thanks to all our donors for the support. If you’d like to continue supporting our efforts, consider making a recurring $45 donation to support a family of 6 for one month.

Missed our recap of our January & February accomplishments? Read now. 

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