In Yemen, years of conflict, extreme weather, repeated disease outbreaks, collapsing services, and a failing economy have pushed families into a severe hunger crisis.
Yet, in places like Taiz, the efforts of The Alliance’s local Yemeni partner* are making a meaningful difference, providing vital food assistance to internally displaced people (IDPs) living through crisis.
For IDP camp resident Ali*, his wife, and their eight children, the arrival of the first food basket restored their hope. The family has been displaced multiple times by conflict, and each time, Ali brought their sheep along to preserve their livelihood. But then Ali was struck by a landmine and his leg had to be amputated. The family’s sole breadwinner was now unable to work.
“We need this basket more than ever,” he says. “You have made our children happy and brought joy and smiles to their hearts.”
Life in an IDP camp is difficult. In Ali’s camp, water scarcity, lack of proper sanitation facilities, and waste build up were causing widespread health problems. When one of his children developed a severe skin infection, Ali participated in a hygiene awareness session hosted by local partner staff, and was moved to learn more about the community’s shared responsibility to address these issues.
The former shepherd began guiding his family to regularly wash their hands with soap, set a basket outside his tent to separate waste, and created a small handwashing station labelled ‘Hygiene Corner – Start with Yourself.’
Initially neighbours were skeptical, but started to encourage Ali when they noticed infections among children begin to decline. Soon after, Ali and his wife launched a weekly ‘Hygiene Hour,’ inviting residents to clean shared spaces on Fridays, collect waste, and bury it in designated pits far from their tents.
Unable to work but determined to protect his family and community, Ali continues to lead by example. As he puts it: “Hygiene does not just protect us from diseases, it is a social responsibility.”
*Names protected for security reasons.
This story was originally published in the 2026 spring edition of Breaking Bread.
