Hanan’s journey: rebuilding in the midst of Yemen’s humanitarian crisis

Before the war, Hanan led a modest but stable life in the coastal city of Hodeida, in western Yemen. Her husband lived from casual jobs, earning around 5,000 Yemeni rials a day, the equivalent of 18 euros at the time. This income was enough to support their family of three young children: Jaber, 10, Abdullah, 6, and Abdul Rahman, 3.

But in 2015, everything changed. Air strikes came dangerously close to their neighborhood. The family had no choice but to flee in a hurry, leaving behind all their belongings. “We took the bare minimum with us. For over a month and a half, we wandered from village to village, in total uncertainty“, recalls Hanan.

It was finally in the village of Al-Qataba, in the district of Al Khawkhah, some 100 km from Hodeida, that the family tried to rebuild. But the reality was harsh: rents were exorbitant, access to water was limited, food was unaffordable and there were very few job opportunities. Unable to pay for housing, Hanan and her husband moved into a makeshift hut made of wood, straw and tarpaulins, with no electricity or running water. Even today, this precarious shelter remains their only refuge.

Transforming humanitarian aid into a lever for emancipation

In December 2023, Hanan joined a financial assistance program implemented by Action Against Hunger, with the support of the French Interministerial Food Aid Committee (CIAA). The project aims to boost the food and nutritional security of the most vulnerable populations in the Al Khawkhah district, by combining cash transfers, social support and practical training.

The program focuses on pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as households with children under the age of two, who are most at risk of malnutrition. The aim is to respond to emergencies while laying the foundations for sustainable autonomy.

Hanan received five payments of 135,500 rials each (around 74 euros), spread over several months. The first two covered basic needs: food, warm clothing for the children, cooking utensils, and a mattress for a decent night’s sleep.

But soon, driven by her desire for independence and encouraged by community leaders, Hanan decided to go further. She took a two-week incense-making course run by the Ghita Al Rahma Foundation. This craft, deeply rooted in Yemeni culture, is in great demand, particularly for family celebrations.

Thanks to the third instalment, Hanan was able to purchase the necessary raw materials: oud[1], musk, rose oil, saffron, glycerine, charcoal, as well as containers and packaging materials. Little by little, she began to produce her own blends, at home, in her hut. She sells them first in her neighborhood, then in neighboring villages, at local fairs or through women intermediaries.

“Setting up an incense business was a turning point for us,” says Hanan. “Previously, we were struggling to cover the most basic needs. But once I started earning a regular income, everything started to improve, we could meet our daily needs and provide for the children in a way we would never have believed possible in the most difficult of times.”

Today, she earns between 100,000 and 150,000 rials a month (55 to 82 euros). This enables her to cover the cost of food, providing a variety of meals for her children, as well as health and schooling expenses.

A ray of hope in a country on its knees

Hanan’s story represents a rare ray of hope in a country ravaged by a decade of war. Yemen is experiencing one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises: its infrastructure has been destroyed, its economy has collapsed and essential services have ground to a halt. In many areas, access to drinking water, healthcare or education remains a luxury.

The continuing conflict, the economic crisis, below-average crop and livestock production due to erratic rainfall in May-June and flash floods have exacerbated the food crisis in recent months. According to the latest IPC projections, 18.1 million people, or more than half the population, are expected to be in phase 3 or above (crisis or worse) by February 2026 in areas controlled by the Yemeni government and those controlled by the Sana’a-based authorities. Of these, some 41,000 people are expected to reach phase 5 (disaster), notably in the governorates of Hajjah, Hodeidah and Amran, in northern Yemen. This represents an increase of 1 million more people in crisis or worse than in the period from May to August 2025.

“The intensification of hostilities in the north of the country, linked to the regional tensions of recent months, has only aggravated the humanitarian situation by disrupting markets – including food and fuel imports – but also the delivery of humanitarian aid, particularly medicines,” warns Anne Garella, Director of Middle East Operations for Action Against Hunger. “Our supplies to the north of the country, where the needs are most urgent, are currently no longer secure. Our teams are exploring alternative routes, in particular via Oman. If this transit route were to be confirmed, it would increase supply costs by 20%, as well as lengthening delivery times by around two months.”

In addition, the humanitarian crisis in Yemen remains severely underfunded, with only 13% of the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) funded to date. This shortfall is exacerbated by the drastic reduction in US aid, previously the country’s main humanitarian donor, which risks having catastrophic and lasting repercussions on the most vulnerable and marginalized populations.

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[1] Oud, also known as agarwood, is extracted from a tropical tree called the Aquilaria tree. Oud is mainly used to make perfumes and incense.