Under A safe Roof

The ongoing conflict and rapid deterioration of conditions in Yemen are pushing millions of displaced Yemenis further into danger and tragedy. Since the outbreak of the conflict, many Yemeni residents have been forced to flee their homes in search of safety. Due to the continued violence and worsening conditions in the region, the number of people leaving their homes and leaving everything they own behind has increased.

Funded by #UNHCR the Nahda Makers Organization (#NMO) intervened with a house rehabilitation project in the conflict-affected district of Salh in Taizz Governorate, to enable the residents to return to their homes after they were impacted by the conflict and lacked the necessities of life.

The field team of #NMO made a field visit to the targeted sites in the Al Mahwa area - Salh District, Taziz Governorate. Among the names that were targeted based on a nomination list from the local authority was the beneficiary Abdul Razzaq Qaed Abdo Saleh, 41 years old. where Abdul Razzaq Qaed spoke about his situation before the intervention, saying: “I used to live with my family, which consists of eight members (my wife, six children, and me), and for 20 years I have been living a decent life with my family members, and I was working with a contractor in constructing buildings on an ongoing basis. We were working in more than one governorate, and we could move between cities with ease.

I had a stable life with my family members. One day, which we will never forget, was the moment when the war broke out in the city of Taizz. As soon as it began, our work stopped, Job opportunities declined, and the contractor I used to work with ceased his work. I didn't get a new job, the situation worsened as the conflict intensified and violence increased day by day. the nearby government facilities were taken by armed groups, which forced us to leave our home and flee to the Ibb Governorate, where we resided in the house of my wife's uncle. My children stopped attending school, and since that day, everything in my life has changed, and I was not even able to afford treatments for my wife during her pregnancy".

Abdurezzaq continued by saying: "My displacement in Ibb was only for one year, I suffered a lot during that year until I decided to return to my home in the Al-Mahwa area, Taizz Governorate. When I returned home, I was shocked to see the walls of my house cracked, the wooden ceilings completely damaged, the water tanks penetrated by bullets, and the furniture finished. However, I decided with my family to live with the situation. After that, I began working as a motorbike driver as I rented a bike from a friend to support my family and to buy the necessary materials such as mattresses and blankets. upon my return to my neighborhood, I saw the school where my kids were studying had become unsafe... therefore, In the first year of my return from displacement, I was unable to take my children because all the schools are far away, and I could not afford transportation. In the second year, my children were able to attend a safe school that was somewhat close to my home which made me feel comfortable. Nowadays I work from 6 am to 7 pm to provide their school necessities and basic life for my family".

Abdurezzaq adds: “At the end of 2022, when the #Nahda_Makers Organization, funded by #UNHCR, began surveying and verifying homes, my home was one of the homes that were targeted. I received the first payment and was working on my own because I had previous experience in the field of construction, Thanks to Allah, I completed all the work, and now I have one room for me and my wife and another room for my kids also I built a safe kitchen for my family. It was a successful project by all standards, as we now feel life is back in our neighborhood with the return of many residents whose houses were rehabilitated by #NMO".

Finally, Abdurezzaq expressed his thanks to the #Nahda_Makers Organization, and to the #UNHCR, in addition to all their staff, hoping to see other interventions such as NFIs, and livelihood to fund him to get an income source such as a motorbike.