IOM Yemen: How Women Carry the Scent of Home in Yemen’s Displacement Camps

Ma’rib, Yemen 

In the heart of a displacement camp in Ma’rib, a small family gathers around a makeshift table as morning begins. Children’s laughter, neighbours calling to one another, and footsteps moving between shelters blend together, filling the air.

For many women here, life is a constant balancing act: caring for children, managing scarce resources, and holding onto dignity in a world disrupted by conflict. Yet even in displacement, women find ways to recreate a sense of home through routine, memory, and tradition. Among them is Amatalatif, a mother whose skills and determination have become a lifeline for others.

Amatalatif’s journey began years ago in Aden, where she received her first training in traditional handcrafts, including incense and perfume-making. “At the time, we were among the first groups to receive this kind of training, so we were very excited,” she recalls. 

What began as a learning opportunity soon became a mission. After her training, Amatalatif helped set up a women’s association, where she trained dozens of women, many of them widowed or divorced, to develop practical skills and earn their own income. Her work later took her to Sana’a, where she spent three years training women through local charity associations, supporting those raising families on their own.

In 2016, as insecurity grew and her children’s schooling was disrupted, Amatalatif was forced to flee again, this time to Ma’rib. Divorced and raising four children on her own, she suddenly found herself displaced and solely responsible for their survival.

‎“Starting over in displacement is not easy,” she says. “I had to rebuild not just my life, but the lives of my children. They depended on me, so giving up was never an option.” 

Determined to continue supporting other women, Amatalatif began volunteering in Ma’rib’s displacement camps in 2020. She brought women together in small groups of ten, found a place where they could meet, and walked for half an hour each day to teach them how to make incense using basic materials.

Her efforts soon drew attention. Women in the camps began asking for more structured training, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) responded by formalizing workshops across several sites in Ma’rib Alwadi and Al Jufainah. Recognizing her experience and leadership, Amatalatif was then hired to lead the training herself.

“These trainings give women more than skills,” she explains. “They help restore confidence and give women something to hold on to. I treat the women like my daughters, guiding them, answering their questions, and supporting them as they start making products on their own.” 

The workshops go beyond simple craft sessions. They offer women a way to stay connected to tradition and to one another. IOM’s programme equips women with the skills to produce four types of traditional incense, alongside guidance on marketing, product evaluation, and safe handling of materials.  

Fifty women, many in particularly vulnerable situations, took part in the training, receiving materials free of charge and learning how to sell their products safely and earn an income. The programme is closely supported by field staff, including Sabah, who coordinates the activities on a daily basis.  

“Many of these women have been displaced and lost the family members who supported them,” she explains. “They asked for this training because they needed a way to earn an income and support their families.”

Sabah says the impact goes beyond earning an income.

“I’ve received messages from women telling me how much the training has helped them,” she says. “It’s made a real difference to how they feel.” 

Through her daily work, Sabah has seen how the sessions offer a rare sense of stability. Amid the instability of camp life, they give women something to focus on, a chance to learn, create, and support one another.

‎“Every day, I see women just trying to get through the day,” Sabah says. “The training gives them something meaningful to hold on to and a sense of control over their lives.”

One participant, Om Ahmed, embodies this shift. Widowed for more than 20 years, she fled her home in Hajjah in 2019 after it was destroyed. Now living in a shelter in Al Jufainah with her children, some of whom need ongoing medical care, she was struggling with debt and had no steady source of income.

“My neighbour used to make incense and I had always admired her work,” she says. “I had hoped one day I could learn the skill myself.”

That opportunity came through the workshop. With guidance from Amatalatif and IOM staff, Om Ahmed learned to produce around 15 to 20 cans of incense at a time, which she now sells to neighbours and at local gatherings. She has also begun exploring commission-based sales with nearby shops.

“I finally learned the skill I had hoped for,” she shared. “It helped me get through difficult days and kept me busy. Now I can support my family and feel more confident about the future.” 

As Ramadan approaches, the impact of the training becomes even more tangible. For many women, gaining a marketable skill has eased one of their greatest anxieties: providing for their families. During the month, the workshops take on deeper meaning, as women gather to produce cone incense, laugh, learn, and share moments of connection while fasting.

“It becomes part of our routine,” Sabah says. “Even with so much uncertainty around them, women keep finding ways to support their families. During Ramadan, that sense of togetherness matters even more.”

While skills-building supports longer-term self-reliance, many families still face urgent daily needs, particularly during Ramadan. For women like Om Ahmed, this support helps ease immediate pressures and creates space to care for their families and think ahead.

The workshops were implemented by IOM in Ma’rib with support from EU Humanitarian Aid.

Donate to help crisis-affected families meet their most urgent needs through IOM's Islamic Philanthropy Fund.  

This story was written by Mennatallah Homaid, Senior Communication Assistant with IOM Yemen.