Marib – Six years of conflict have led to the world’s worse humanitarian crisis, while the COVID-19 outbreak has further deteriorated an already dire situation for millions of Yemenis. While in Marib, where hundreds of thousands of displaced people are sheltering, recent floods have had a devastating impact on communities struggling to deal with COVID-19. To support displaced families in Marib, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) launched a mask weaving project in 13 displacement sites through support from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

According to the World Bank, more than 40 per cent of Yemeni families have lost their primary source of income in the past four years due to the conflict and economic collapse. Displaced people are among the worst affected, being forced to leave everything behind when they flee and lacking access to income opportunities in the areas where they are sheltering.

The recent escalation of fighting near Marib has led to over 8,000 people being displaced in September alone. Since the end of January, over 70,000 people have been displaced to or within Marib governorate, particularly Marib city. This comes in addition to a substantial number of displaced people already living in Marib, dwarfing the host community who have welcomed them, despite increased pressure on basic services.

High displacement rates, a crumbling economy and lack of employment opportunities have increased competition over jobs and income sources. The mask weaving project aims to support displaced women’s income while also increasing the awareness of important COVID-19 prevention measures.

Nada is a displaced mother of three from Hajjah. When her husband was killed in a market in Marib seven months ago, her family lost their sole provider, so she started looking for a way to earn a living.

“I was looking for any type of work to provide for my children, so I took part in this mask weaving project. I learned how to make proper masks and I received sewing tools,” said Nada, explaining how she came to participate in the project.

Around 60 women were trained under this IOM-KSA initiative in Marib. These women received a two-day training, as well as the tools and materials to make the masks.

“We received many requests from displaced women asking for support to start small projects. IOM responded to the call and taught them how to make masks,” explained Sabah Al Qubati, IOM Field Assistant in Marib.

Each woman was requested to make nearly 350 masks within one week. So far, the women have made a total number of masks close to 28,000. Upon the completion of the masks, IOM provided the women with incentives for participation and then IOM distributes the masks among the displaced community.

Originally from Ibb, Nabeela is four months pregnant. She was displaced with her husband Abdo and their nine children to Marib three years ago. Her husband has a back injury, which hinders him from working. She has no choice but to find a way to feed their children.

“I made over 700 masks because I am in desperate need of cash. My husband even helped me make them, and I am willing to make more,” explained Nabeela.

“After I received payment for the masks, I was able to buy clothes and school equipment for my children and save some money for my pregnant daughter who is about to give birth,” she added, whose daughter and pregnant at the same time as her mother, which brings the young woman some solace as she lost her own husband recently.

The masks made in this project are going to be distributed among displaced families who are considered to be at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19 in their camps. At this stage, the ongoing project is estimated to have benefitted over 500 people.

For more information, please contact IOM Yemen: 

•          Arabic: Mennatallah Homaid, Tel: +967739888755, Email: mhomaid@iom.int  

•          English: Olivia Headon, Tel: +251926379755, Email: oheadon@iom.int