As temperatures plummet and seasonal floods wreak havoc on already fragile shelters, in Ma’rib, the West Coast, and South Ta’iz, in Yemen, International Organization of Migration IOM has launched an urgent intervention, distributing 1,000 Non-Food Items (NFIs) across more than 30 displacement sites.
These kits, which include mattresses, blankets, sleeping mats, kitchen sets, and water buckets, are designed to provide displaced families with the basic necessities needed to survive the extreme winter conditions.
To further support those in need, 1,130 families received cash-for-NFIs, allowing them to purchase essential items such as blankets, clothing, and heating equipment to combat the severe cold. The cash assistance also helped families acquire kitchen items to restore basic living conditions.
This EU Humanitarian Aid (ECHO)-funded support gives households the flexibility to prioritize their most urgent needs, strengthening protection, fostering resilience, and preserving their dignity.
“This effort goes beyond distributing aid,” said Abdusattor Esoev, IOM’s Chief of Mission in Yemen. “It’s about ensuring displaced families can maintain their dignity and safety through the cold months. By providing timely, life-saving support, we’re helping families who have already endured immense hardship and now face the daunting task of rebuilding their lives in the most challenging of conditions.”
The 2025 Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan reveals that nearly 7.5 million people urgently need shelter and non-food assistance, with more than half of them being displaced families. Almost 2 million displaced Yemenis are living across over 2,000 displacement sites, many of which are situated in high-risk areas such as Al Hodeidah, Al Jawf, Hajjah, Ma’rib, and Ta’iz governorates. The majority of these families reside in makeshift shelters that are poorly equipped to withstand the cold, seasonal flooding, and other challenges.
Many displaced families are forced to live in overcrowded sites with inadequate infrastructure, where access to clean water, sanitation, and basic services remains limited. These conditions are compounded by the extreme weather, making the provision of essential items even more critical. On top of the extreme cold, seasonal floods have further devastated the sites, washing away what little shelter and belongings they had left.