Originally from Al Hodeidah, Yemen, 43-year-old Mohammed*, his wife, and their four daughters were forced to flee their home three years ago when conflict intensified in the region. The violence and instability left them with no choice but to leave in search of safety.
We had to leave everything behind us.
Eventually, they settled in Ga’wala Collection site in Aden governorate, over 300 km away from home, under the internationally recognized government. In Ga’wala, Mohammed’s family, and 131 other internally displaced households live on farmers’ lands in exchange for guarding the property. To support his family, Mohammed collects and sells plastic or works on nearby farms.
I can barely support my family. Every day I walk 3 kilometers to reach the city and sell plastic to earn a little bit of money to buy food.
With his limited income, Mohammed could only build a basic makeshift shelter using available materials. The shelter offered little to no protection for his children. When asked about his living conditions, he explained:
The major issue with my shelter is that the plastic sheet cover is in very poor condition, it is old and damaged and does not provide adequate protection for me and my family against harsh conditions. During heavy rains, water seeps inside, and on hotter days, the intense heat from the sun makes it uncomfortable for us.
In response to urgent needs of displaced families living in the site, Acted, through the Yemen Displacement Response (YDR) Consortium and funding from the European Union (EU), distributed shelter rehabilitation kits to the most vulnerable families living in Ga’wala Collection as part of its broader efforts to enhance living conditions for internally displaced people across Yemen. To maximize the impact of the intervention, it was complemented by the distribution of non-food items, including mattresses, kitchen sets, and other necessities. Furthermore, each shelter rehabilitation kit was tailored to the specific needs of each household.
To ensure proper use of the materials, Acted’s engineer conducted on-site visits, and offered technical guidance to beneficiaries on how to install and utilize the materials.
Mohammed and his family received the kit which included plastic sheets, wooden poles and plates, thermal insulation, and nylon rope. He shared:
I received the kit with all the materials I needed to rehabilitate my shelter. I asked a friend to help me, and we worked on it together. We added the wooden materials provided by Acted to the existing frame of my shelter to make it stronger. Then, we installed the new plastic sheet on the exterior and the insulation inside the shelter.
The engineer, who supervised Mohammed and his friend during the rehabilitation of his shelter, explained:
Providing essential materials like plastic sheets and insulation was crucial. It allowed families to stay protected from the weather and improve their overall health and safety, and has strengthened their resilience.
The upgraded shelter now offers better protection against harsh weather conditions. The improvements have created a safer and more comfortable environment for Mohammed’s family. Mohammed says:
Now, our shelter has become stronger and is protecting my family from the rain and heat. We have been living in the new shelter for a few months, and I can say that this intervention has greatly improved our living conditions.
For families like Mohammed’s, having a secure and weather-resistant shelter is more than just a physical structure; it is a foundation for dignity, safety, and hope. While the challenges of displacement remain, Mohammed now feels a renewed sense of stability and hopes for a better future. He shares:
My hope is that one day my familiy can return to our hometown in Al Hodeidah and live there safely. For the time being, now that my shelter is complete, I hope to earn enough money to buy a motorcycle so I can travel to the city for work instead of having to walk there every day.
Thanks to funding from the EU through its Humanitarian Aid Operations, Acted, a member of the YDR Consortium, has been providing comprehensive assistance in shelter, non-food items, water access, camp management, and protection services to ensure a more dignified and resilient life for vulnerable communities in Yemen. After two years of implementation, Acted has reached 87,186 internally displaced people and host community members across six governorates: Aden, Al Dhale’e, Abyan, Marib, Al Hodeidah and Sa’adah.
*Name has been changed for privacy protection.