This is a country already so poverty-stricken having faced continuous civil war and has led to devastating consequences, including forcing many to flee their homes in search of safety and shelter.
The shortage of and desperate need for food, amid the chaos of war, is life-threatening. The possibility of conducting subsistence farming is negligible as the desert land is not regarded as arable, whilst fodder and water for livestock is extremely scarce. Moreover, the people of Yemen are unable to remain in one place for long, given the need to be continually seeking safer areas.
Gift of the Givers has worked in Yemen since 2012 because the country relies so heavily on imports and, especially, humanitarian aid for survival.
Having witnessed the acute malnourishment among IDPs, Gift of the Givers responded with an initial delivery of 12 shipping containers of food. Our hunger alleviation activities have included the delivery of food parcels and the establishment of feeding centres in Taiz, Hajah, Sana'a and Aden. Recipients include patients with leprosy, physical and mental challenges, those undergoing kidney dialysis treatment and those suffering from blindness. Additional beneficiaries include refugees living in camps and remote villages, as well as those attending universities and schools. We currently ship 1 300 tons of food from South Africa, Brazil and India every year to Yemen.
The hunger alleviation response by Gift of the Givers includes famine relief, food parcels and the provision of feeding centres.
