Cash Assistance Makes Life More Bearable for Families Displaced by Conflict in Ma’rib

Ma'rib – Bashir, a 36-year-old father of six children, did not have the luxury of packing up his house before he moved from his home in 2016. Instead, he was forced to flee with what few belongings he could carry.

“War does not wait for you to think or prepare yourself. It storms through your life suddenly, taking away everything from you,” said Bashir.

When Bashir, his children, wife and parents fled for the first time, they had nothing but clothes on them. At that time nothing mattered more than saving their lives.

“When you must run, nothing is more important than saving the lives of your loved ones. Later, you discover that life can be unbearable without the basic necessities.”

Since the conflict reached their home six years ago, Bashir’s family has had to flee four times. Four times that they have had to rebuild their shelter, buy all new goods and seen their resources completely drained.

Two years ago, the family settled in Jaw Al Naseem site in Ma’irb, where the family is still settling in. This time they have built their shelter in the hopes that they can remain until peace returns.

Before his displacement, Bashir owned a farm which allowed him to comfortably provide for his children. Since becoming displaced, he has been working as a bus driver and his wages barely cover his family’s basic needs.

Displaced people might have access to markets where goods are available, but most lack the cash to purchase anything.

“A life of displacement is full of hardship, especially for women who care for their families. We must ensure that the whole family is eating and living well. What can a good chef cook in an empty kitchen?” said Fatimah, Bashir’s wife.

To help people displaced by the conflict to purchase what they need to start over, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and EU Humanitarian Aid (ECHO) launched a cash for shelter and non-food item programme in Ma’rib this year.

So far, around 1,700 families in five sites in Ma’rib have been supported with cash assistance to upgrade and buy basic goods for their shelters.

“Cash assistance supports displaced people to recover and become self-reliant. It gives them the dignity of choice and purchasing power, which also improves the local economy and helps local retailers,” explained Muthafar Asma, a member of IOM’s Shelter team. 

When Bashir received his cash assistance, he bought a bread oven and a kitchen set for his family as well as an air conditioner for his elderly father.

“Our old oven was in a bad condition. It consumed gas and burned the bread, and it leaked gas which could cause a fire explosion at in any moment,” explained his wife Fatimah who is now better able to feed her family.

Not far from Bashir resides his 35-year-old brother-in-law Jamal, Jamal’s pregnant wife and their one-year-old son.

Jamal also received cash assistance and used it to rehabilitate one of the rooms in his shelter and bought gas cylinders and a kitchen set that would help his wife prepare daily meals.

“Providing the house with the missing items has been my priority. It will not only help my wife, but it could protect her life and the life of our baby,” explained Jamal.

“(The new kitchen items) make me feel more comfortable and confident. I will no longer have to borrow these items from my neighbours. Now it is my turn to help them,” said Sumayah, Jamal’s wife on how the cash assistant made a difference for her life.

Jamal and Sumayah also decided to continue the rehabilitation of their shelter and build a fence around the yard to protect their children from playing in the road.