“During Ramadan, we feel a sense of peace” Safiya, a senior Yemeni woman says.

Safiya was forced to flee her home in Hudaydah with her family due to war. She and her family now reside in a refugee camp, struggling to afford basic necessities amidst high rents. “Where else could we go?”

Ramadan brings her a sense of peace and happiness and she finds comfort in prayer and faith despite the challenges of displacement. She says, “When we pray and speak to God, God will relieve our worries”.

After nearly a decade of conflict, Yemen’s economy has collapsed, leading to skyrocketing prices, widespread poverty, and damage to crucial infrastructure, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. Yemen also ranks among the world’s most vulnerable countries to climate change, experiencing a surge in climate-related displacement in 2023, including cyclones, droughts, and flooding. The nation faces alarming malnutrition rates, with an estimated 17.6 million people expected to suffer from severe food insecurity in 2024, including 6 million in emergency situations. Displacement disproportionately affects women and children, with 80% of displaced individuals falling into this demographic, and 26% of displaced households headed by women.

“Until God brings an end to this situation…We will either die or live a better life” Safiya reflects.

Despite the uncertainties, she holds onto hope for a better future. “With the cash assistance I received from UNHCR, I was able to get an operation done. When you have money, you can do the things you need to do.”

Safiya’s struggles emphasizes the urgent need for intervention and shows the impact of Zakat donations on the lives of families in distress. Her story embodies the struggles experienced by numerous Yemeni mothers amidst poverty and the desire to return to their homes. Safiya now only prays and says” “My prayer to the Almighty…is that He grant us a peaceful end.”

The impact of Zakat has helped families like Safiya’s rebuild their lives, providing essential necessities such as shelter, food, water, and medicine. “My prayer to the Almighty,” Safiya says “is that He grant us a peaceful end”. Her words are a touching reminder of the resilience of the human spirit in the face of difficulty.