IOM Yemen: Weathering the Storm: Displaced Families Reclaim Stability with Cash Support

By:

• Written by Haithm Abdulbaqi | Media and Communications Assistant
• Edited by Mennatallah Homaid | Senior Communications Assistant

Ma’rib, Yemen 

In Al Jufainah, one of Yemen’s largest displacement sites, more than 16,000 families continue to live far from their places of origin, navigating prolonged displacement, fragile shelter conditions, and limited livelihood opportunities. For many, each season brings renewed uncertainty, as sudden shocks such as heavy rains and flooding compound existing vulnerabilities. During such times—when families struggle to provide, endure hardship, and maintain stability—support that helps meet basic needs with dignity becomes crucial.

Ahmed was displaced from Al Jarrahi District in Al Hodeidah Governorate four years ago, after insecurity, ongoing conflict, and the collapse of economic opportunities made it impossible for his family to remain. Seeking safety and a sense of stability, he moved with his wife and three children to Al Jufainah, where they continue to live in displacement.

Life in displacement has brought persistent challenges. Each morning, Ahmed walks into Ma’rib city to his small cobbler’s stall—his sole source of income. Working from a modest, makeshift space, he repairs worn shoes, earning just enough on some days to cover basic needs. The irregular income leaves the family vulnerable to even minor disruptions.

“I cannot read or write, and neither can my wife,” Ahmed said quietly. “I don’t want my children to grow up the same way.” Despite his efforts to prioritize their education, he and his family continue to live in extremely fragile conditions. Their shelter offers little protection against harsh weather, and Ahmed’s limited income is rarely enough to consistently cover food, safe water, and school supplies. Like many displaced families in Al Jufainah, they live with the constant fear that one unexpected shock could undo what little stability they have managed to build.

Three months ago, heavy rains swept across Ma’rib, continuing late into the night and triggering flooding in parts of Al Jufainah displacement site. For Ahmed’s family, the impact was immediate. Water began seeping into their shelter, soaking their belongings and leaving them exposed to the storm.

“That night, my wife and I kept praying the rain would stop,” Ahmed recalled. “The water kept rising inside the tent. I carried my youngest child in my arms, asking God to protect us until it ended.”

By morning, families across Al Jufainah were surveying the damage left by the floods, many having lost food and basic household items overnight. With shelters inundated and urgent needs unmet, community members sought help wherever they could. Bassam, a site mobilizer, visited affected households—including Ahmed’s—and quickly reported urgent cases to response teams. Shortly after, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) deployed field staff to conduct rapid assessments, determined which families required immediate support, providing both reassurance and essential aid.

“They took my information and made sure we were safe,” Ahmed said. “The next day, they gave us a food basket. It was exactly what we needed.”

Following the initial response, IOM’s field team returned to Ahmed’s shelter to assess the full impact of the flooding. Based on this assessment, he qualified for emergency support and was enrolled in the Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance programme—a response designed to help households recover from sudden shocks while giving families the flexibility to prioritize their own needs.

Shortly afterward, Ahmed received a text informing him that money was waiting for him at the bank. Unable to read it himself, he asked a friend to explain.

“I was told there was money waiting for me at the bank,” he said. “It felt like a mountain was lifted off my chest.”

Ahmed received around $170 through the Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance programme. With the cash, he was able to take his youngest son to a doctor after the child was hit by a motorcycle inside the site.

“The driver didn’t have money either,” Ahmed explained. “I didn’t pressure him. I just needed to make sure my son was treated.”

He also used part of the cash to purchase a small stove and school supplies for his daughter. “Education is the most important thing for my children,” he said. “This assistance helped me protect that.”

Just a few blocks away, 21-year-old Kamal Abdullah vividly recalls that night. Displaced from Ta’iz, he has been living in Ma’rib for seven years, initially with his grandmother before marrying and starting his own family. During the storm, he, his wife, and three children huddled inside their shelter, fearing it might not withstand the heavy rain and winds.

“The wind was so strong, and my children were terrified,” Kamal said. “My wife and I were worried our shelter would collapse. I held them close until the rain stopped, praying we could move them somewhere safer.”

When he heard that IOM teams were assessing families affected by the floods, Kamal left his shelter in search of help. There, he met Mohammed, an IOM field assistant working in Al Jufainah. 

“I told him what happened,” Kamal said. “He came into our shelter and saw the damage—the roof leaking, our food soaked, and all our rations and clothes ruined. He listened carefully, took my information, and promised to follow up soon.”

The next day, Kamal received an emergency response package through the Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM), including food, clean water, blankets, and hygiene items. This critical support helped his family survive the immediate impact, protect their health, and begin stabilizing their living conditions.

These response packages are part of a coordinated effort by IOM, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Under this first-line response mechanism, UNFPA provides Dignity Kits, UNICEF provides Hygiene Kits, the World Food Programme (WFP) provides Food Baskets, and IOM takes the lead in distributing these packages and providing one-off Emergency Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA)—a vital lifeline that gives families the flexibility and dignity to address their most urgent needs and regain stability after a crisis.

Building on this support, Kamal received Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance, enabling him to prioritize his family’s most pressing needs and take charge of their recovery. 

“I realized with the money I could make a change, finally,” he said. “Instead of searching for work every day, I borrowed a little more money and started a small grocery shop.”

Kamal’s shop is modest: a small iron shelter stocked with soft drinks, children’s snacks, and a few basic food items. His wife works alongside him, restocking shelves and assisting customers. 

“It’s humble,” Kamal said with a smile, “but one day it will be bigger, Inshallah.”

The Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance programme, funded by the European Aid (ECHO), supports families during sudden crises across Yemen, providing critical aid to more than 2,100 households nationwide, including 664 in Ma’rib Governorate.

Today, Ahmed continues to fix shoes to keep his children in school, while Kamal and his wife gradually expand their small grocery shop. Despite ongoing challenges in Al Jufainah, families—like Ahmed and Kamal’s—are regaining stability and control over their lives, one step at a time.