[Original by S. Kutsukake, 2024 Intern (December 26, 2024); Translated by S. Yoshihara/K. Takemura]
“Children’s Place” or “Child Friendly Space (CFS)” projects are being carried out in the Rahba and Rajhi internally displaced persons camps in Yemen, where people who were driven from their homes in the civil war take shelter. This article will tell you about their lives as internally displaced persons.
The harsh life of internally displaced persons
What the residents of Rahba complain of is the harshness of life in tents. Because there is no air conditioning inside, it is hot while the sun is out and cold at night. In this environment with daily temperature differences, it is easy to fall ill. In addition, when it rains water comes in; at times the bed gets wet so that it is not possible to sleep. To prevent water entering, Amid, a resident who is actively involved in community volunteer work, has built pathways for the rainwater.
Amid is actively involved in community volunteer work in the Rahba internally displaced persons camp
On the other hand, in Rajhi, around August 2024, the shelters were changed from tents to wooden buildings. To counter the heat, there are windows, and a heat-resistant sheet is attached to the ceiling. This has improved durability and secured private space. Even so, when it is hot, residents sometimes sleep outside or in stone livestock huts. Still, there are also residents who express that the improvements to the shelters have allowed them to feel as though they have become human. The current shelters are the minimum facility to protect human dignity; we can see that previously residents were forced to live in harsh conditions that dehumanized them.
Inside of the three-meter square wooden shelter
The internally displaced persons camps do not have infrastructure. In Rahba, residents used to walk an hour to a well to draw water. In both camps, following the assistance of other NGOs, water is now available nearby, but in Rahba even now when there is a shortage, residents must walk 20 minutes to fetch water. Additionally, since there is no gas or fuel, firewood must be collected. The school is also overcrowded; with 200 people in one classroom the teachers are not always visible, and student comprehension is said to be poor. Although internally displaced persons have escaped the danger caused by the conflict itself, life as a refugee remains harsh.
Friction with the host community
Even when evacuated from a life-threatening situation, internally displaced persons do not always receive a warm welcome. Muhib’s family was repeatedly evacuated because there was no house for the entire family; on their third attempt they found their way to their current home, Rajhi internally displaced persons camp.
Zahra speaks of the pain of a life where neither couple can work
However, upon beginning life there, they encountered friction with the host community. For example, there are many cases of residents of the host community prohibiting the gathering of firewood. Even when asked by members of the host community “why do you raid our own lands,” Muhib tries not to say anything back. He says that of course there are good people, but some come off as arrogant. Iltizaq, an 11-year-old boy, says that when he was first evacuated, he was not accepted by the host community and was in a lot of fights. Zahra of Rahba, says she collects garbage to burn instead of firewood. The relationship with the people of the host community at the evacuation site is another one of the challenges that internally displaced persons must face.
Lost livelihoods
War not only takes homes and property from people, but also their livelihoods. Residents of the internally displaced persons camp had their own work before the war: general store management, brick making, animal husbandry, hat making, beekeeping, and so forth. But at the evacuation sites, people no longer have fields or stores to go to everyday. People who used to have their own livelihoods are now forced to rely on food aid and donations. Additionally, some are saying that aid from international organizations has been reduced, and it is difficult to secure food.
Abdulaziz shares that he was a beekeeper before evacuating
While there are some people who report being ill, cannot work and unable to buy medicine, there are many people who look for ways to make a living by themselves, for example, by doing delivery work, driving motorcycles, helping with the harvest in the host community, or working abroad.
Salim’s family in Rajhi earns their living making cheese. Salim’s mother returned to their hometown, where there were snipers, to bring back one cow. Now, with this cow’s milk every week they make 3-4 cheeses worth $1.50 (USD) each, to feed the children and to sell. They also have 7 sheep, for milk and to eat at times like Eid (the holiday marking the end of Ramadan, Islam’s month of fasting).
Even though conflict has taken away the things they hold dear, people are working hard to make a living in their new land.
A cheese made by Salim
Strong local community
Internally displaced persons camps often gather people from the same area. In these cases, people who played leadership roles in the hometown can maintain the sense of community in the internally displaced persons camps as well. Abdulaleem of Rahba, for example, feels a strong sense of responsibility, saying “If I don’t take on this role, the community will not come together,” while caring for sick and injured children, and acting as a liaison with NGOs.
Abdulaleem, who has taken on a leadership role in the Rahba internally displaced persons camp
In addition, Muhib, of Rajhi, shares how the residents have cleaned the well water. In contrast to past situations wherein they relied on NGOs, in response to unsanitary conditions around the well leading to diarrhea occurring, they were able to procure cement and equipment with donations from the residents and carry out a cleaning campaign.
Muhib, who is proud to represent Rajhi internally displaced persons camp
Muhib, who is making great contributions to the community, shares that “as a representative of the other refugees, even if I personally have things to be happy about, I cannot feel happy,” and “of course, without one’s own home one cannot feel safe.” From these words, we can infer the inner pain of those who have been driven from their homes.
Dreams depicted by children
Many of the children who go to the CFS work helping at home before going to play. For example, 14-year-old Ghaith works as a waiter at a restaurant in Taiz during long school breaks. Yet the children have various dreams. Ghaith posts comedy videos on TikTok in his spare time and says that in the future he wants to be a soccer player. Iltizaq’s dream is to buy a car and ride with friends. Awsaf wants to share what she has and knows with other children, so wants to become a teacher.
High schooler Ghaith looks to the future during his busy days
Adults are also supporting the children’s dreams. Salim wants his son Mohammed to continue studying so he can realize his dream of becoming a doctor who helps people in trouble.
Awsaf says that she likes to make rules for playing with friends. She expressed her gratitude to JVC for setting up a playground.
The facilitators of the CFS share the hope that children will be allowed to grow up like children, unlike themselves who grew up under conflict. Ikhtiyar, a facilitator at Rahba’s CFS, says that children can forget about war there. The CFS connects children who live a hard life with a hope for a bright future.
Salim (right) and Mohammed (left)
Toward a community that leaves no one behind
The CFS must be a space open to everyone. Children with disabilities also go here. There are 5 children with disabilities in Rahba camp. Among them are 2 deaf boys who are said to play at the CFS, enjoying the care there without being bullied. At the same time, another child who previously shouted and acted out violently spent time one-on-one with the facilitator and is now able to play with everyone.
Facilitator Ikhtiyar, who has made the most of training to care for children with disabilities
In Rajhi also, there are children with disabilities such as walking difficulties, hearing impairment, and weak sight. Here, too, they will not be bullied, and the facilitators will help them become accustomed to playing with the other children.
Facilitator Hamda talks about how to work with children with disabilities
People with disabilities are among the most vulnerable in the event of a humanitarian crisis. JVC will continue to administer the CFS with the aim of building a community where no one is left behind.
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