Conflict in Yemen took everything from Basstam: 'We can’t live like this'

Airstrikes forced Basstam to leave behind his stable life. His home was destroyed, his mother fell seriously ill, and his family fled to a camp in Al-Dhale’a. Now, they live without enough food, shelter, or any sense of future. “To be honest, we can’t live like this,” he says. “We have nothing left.”

Donate now

9 May 2025

Airstrikes

Basstam Fattini Mothana Darweesh Mohamed is originally from Al Hudaydah governorate. Life there was good, and he was able to provide for his family. But when the airstrikes hit their home, they had no choice but to flee. Together with his wife, children, and mother, he made the journey to eastern Al-Dhale’a.

There was no transportation, and fights were raging all around them. His family was terrified. “My mother suffered a stroke”, he shares. “She has been ill for a year. We spent all our savings on her treatment.”

Life in poverty

The camp they live in now has barely any facilities. Basstam tries to work and sometimes makes a few thousand riyals a day, but it’s not nearly enough. “We eat one meal a day at most. Sometimes, we can’t get anything.”

Conditions are dire. They sleep under torn tarpaulins, with no real protection from cold, heat or rain. Basstam: “We have no means of support, no food, no mattresses, and no proper shelter.” Even though life in the camp is hard, returning to Al Hudaydah is not an option. Basstam’s house is gone, and the region remains unsafe. “The conflict destroyed my home and my livelihood. Our financial situation has collapsed, and now we can’t go back home or return to anything.”

No more aid

Due to the decline in funding from USAID, much less money is available for emergency relief in Yemen. Many aid organisations have been forced to shut down their operations.

ZOA has been active in Yemen since the beginning of the conflict, focusing on emergency aid that addresses hunger and thirst. We support displaced people like Basstam, as well as the communities that host them. In addition, we invest in long-term solutions, such as distributing seeds and farming tools, offering small basic incomes, and repairing essential infrastructure. ZOA works on both sides of the country – in North and South Yemen.