IOM Provides Critical Winter Support to Displaced Families in Yemen

Ma’rib, Yemen – As temperatures plummet and seasonal floods wreak havoc on already fragile shelters, displaced families in Yemen are facing an increasingly dire and life-threatening situation. In response, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is ramping up efforts to deliver urgent support, ensuring families have the essentials they need to withstand the harsh weather.

“This effort goes beyond distributing aid,” said Abdusattor Esoev, IOM’s Chief of Mission in Yemen. “It’s about ensuring displaced families can maintain their dignity and safety through the cold months. By providing timely, life-saving support, we’re helping families who have already endured immense hardship and now face the daunting task of rebuilding their lives in the most challenging of conditions.”

The 2025 Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan reveals that nearly 7.5 million people urgently need shelter and non-food assistance, with more than half of them being displaced families. Almost 2 million displaced Yemenis are living across over 2,000 displacement sites, many of which are situated in high-risk areas such as Al Hodeidah, Al Jawf, Hajjah, Ma’rib, and Ta’iz governorates. The majority of these families reside in makeshift shelters that are poorly equipped to withstand the cold, seasonal flooding, and other challenges. 

Many displaced families are forced to live in overcrowded sites with inadequate infrastructure, where access to clean water, sanitation, and basic services remains limited. These conditions are compounded by the extreme weather, making the provision of essential items even more critical. On top of the extreme cold, seasonal floods have further devastated the sites, washing away what little shelter and belongings they had left. 

As temperatures have sharply dropped, many families have found themselves unprepared for the freezing nights, compounding their already dire circumstances. Without proper shelter and basic necessities, families face serious health risks and heightened vulnerability, particularly women and children.

In response, IOM has launched an urgent intervention, distributing 1,000 Non-Food Items (NFIs) across more than 30 displacement sites in Ma’rib, the West Coast, and South Ta’iz. These kits, which include mattresses, blankets, sleeping mats, kitchen sets, and water buckets, are designed to provide displaced families with the basic necessities needed to survive the extreme winter conditions. 

To further support those in need, 1,130 families received cash-for-NFIs, allowing them to purchase essential items such as blankets, clothing, and heating equipment to combat the severe cold. The cash assistance also helped families acquire kitchen items to restore basic living conditions. This EU Humanitarian Aid (ECHO)-funded support gives households the flexibility to prioritize their most urgent needs, strengthening protection, fostering resilience, and preserving their dignity.

Beyond providing emergency relief, IOM remains dedicated to advocating for sustained support to help displaced families recover and regain stability. The Organization’s ongoing efforts, in collaboration with both local and international partners, aim to ensure that families not only survive but also have the resources they need to rebuild their lives.

For more information, please contact:

Monica Chiriac, Media and Communications Officer: mchiriac@iom.int  
IOM Yemen’s Communications Team: iomyemenmediacomm@iom.int