Shamsan, a 39-year-old internally displaced person, had to flee from Taiz Governorate with his family five years ago due to the conflict and settle down in Al Udayn District in Ibb Governorate. Shamsan, who is suffering from severe physical and psychological challenges due to the conflict, his mentally unstable wife, and their four young daughters suddenly found themselves in Ibb City with no means to keep them safe. A family volunteered to host only the mother and the four daughters for not more than three days and they, therefore, were left on the streets again with no roof over their heads.
“I am glad and grateful that I finally have a home for me and my family”
In 2020, a Shelter and WASH Project was launched by the Yemeni Development Network for NGOs (YDN) in Al Udayn, Mudhikhera, and Jiblah Districts, Ibb Governorate with support from the Yemen Humanitarian Fund (YHF). The project covers the shelter needs by providing rental subsidies for six months. As an immediate response and in coordination with the Shelter Cluster in the area and community leaders, YDN started searching for an apartment for the family in urgent need of support and safety. Fortunately, an appropriate apartment was found in Jiblah District, providing Shamsan and his family with a safe place to stay and necessary non-food items such blankets, beddings, a gas cylinder and burner, a food basket, and a solar energy system. With rental subsidies, families such as Shaman’s have been supported for six months to secure a roof over their heads, which will allow them to focus on finding employment opportunities to feed the family.
“I am glad and grateful that is finally I have a home for me and for my family, thank you YDN and YHF”, Shamsan said.
Cash assistance for rental subsidies was distributed by YDN over six rounds since October 2020. A total of 680 families (some 4,760 individuals) were targeted with cash assistance to cover urgent needs. From 2020 to 2021, some 680 families received cash assistance for rental subsidies in installments amounting to a total of US$240,000 over the course of six months. Cash Interventions are an effective way of helping targeted households in a dignified manner. It is meeting the majority of beneficiaries’ basic needs by helping them afford their rent and pay monthly bills. It is also improving beneficiaries’ lives by having a positive impact on their psychological wellbeing, food security, health, and educational access, through financial stability. YDN provided cash assistance through the financial service provider to ensure accountability and transparency.
The Yemen Humanitarian Fund supported the YDN to implement a $754,448 Shelter/NFI and WASH project to provide emergency services for some 17,800 conflict-affected people in Ibb Governorate in Yemen.
Published by YHF Success Stories 2021
