UNFPA Yemen: Opening safe spaces filled with new possibilities for displaced women and girls

Marib, Yemen 

Haifa, 25, has endured displacement, violence, financial hardship, and societal stigma; divorced with no parental support from her husband.  Seeking stability, she remarried in Marib, but her second husband suffered an war injury leaving him bedridden. Haifa is now the sole breadwinner and desperate to find the means to support her family.

Nashwa, 19, was forced to abandon her education due to displacement and family responsibilities. She too faced abuse and economic hardship, and was desperate to find a way to support herself and her family.

Women and girls continue to be disproportionately impacted by the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. They face severe protection risks. Nearly 80 per cent of the 4.8 million people displaced in Yemen are women and children. A quarter of displaced households are headed by women, compared to 9 per cent before the escalation of the conflict in 2015.

In 2025, an estimated 6.2 million women and girls are at risk of gender based violence, while over 90 per cent of rural areas lack the necessary services to respond to and prevent these acts of violence.

Safe spaces open new doors  

Naifa and Nashwa both found hope at a safe space for women and girls in Marib.  They received psychological support, legal consultations, social rehabilitation, and economic empowerment grants to start their own businesses.

Naifa launched a small business, selling dresses and clothing to local shops. Nashwa was passionate in cooking and opened her own pastry business.

Today, both women are financially independent, providing for their families and regaining their confidence. Their homes are now filled with hope and stability. They dream of expanding their businesses and helping other women faced with violence and economic hardship to visit such safe spaces and build their lives.

Building strong partnerships

With support from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), UNFPA has been able to continue providing lifesaving services for women and girls faced with violence and abuse in governorates where needs are most severe. 

The strong partnership with CERF has even helped to establish three new safe spaces in Al Hudaydah Governorate.

For women like Naifa and Nashwa, the safe spaces are testimony to helping them find their purpose, overcome abuse, adversity, and built a future filled with possibility.