Unbent by the Crisis, Siham Stands Strong to Bring Relief to Her Family

Mokha – Siham still remembers the moment daylight faded to darkness on the night that conflict crept into her usually peaceful hometown in Al Jarrahi district. When armed men entered her home, she was among hundreds of families who ran for their lives.

“We had to leave at night. We could not pack up any of our belongings and had to travel on foot for three hours to the nearest town,” Siham remembers.

Siham, with her parents and two brothers, arrived in a displacement site in She’b Naba on the west coast of Yemen with no place to stay and no belongings. With support from people there, they built a simple shelter from basic materials to keep themselves safe from insects and harsh weather.

While persisting through these strenuous conditions, Siham watched her parents’ health deteriorate and took on the responsibility of caring for them.

“I am the oldest girl in the family, and I must care for my sick father and mother. I can’t stop helping my parents and supporting my family. I can’t give up my responsibilities during this difficult time,” explained Siham.

“I wake up every morning to clean the house and make breakfast for the family before my brothers go to work. I take care of my parents and younger brothers, and then attend to other household needs,” she continued.

To secure safe water for her family, Siham used to walk long distances to the nearest water source and travel back carrying heavy jerry cans.

Lack of access to safe water and hygiene items has compounded the struggle of both displaced and host communities in Yemen where 15.3 million people need support to access water, sanitation and hygiene services. Water infrastructure across the country operates at less than five per cent efficiency.

“We often became sick because we do not have hygiene materials or safe water containers,” added Siham.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM), with support from King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), distributed more than 7000 personal hygiene kits to families in need in six displacement sites in areas along the west coast of Yemen from June to December last year.

“I am very happy that we received soap and cleaning materials, they help us to stay safe and keep the home clean,” said Siham, expressing her feelings about receiving hygiene kits.

These hygiene promotion kits supported by KSrelief have made an impact to alleviate the burden that families like Siham’s were experiencing. These essential items help them not only maintain personal hygiene but also protect themselves from disease.