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A new hope for Halima and her daughters

Nearly a decade after the war’s outbreak, Yemen continues to experience a profound humanitarian and protection crisis. The country’s deteriorating economy, the protracted conflict, and crumbling basic services are exacerbating humanitarian needs across the country. In 2025, an estimated 19.5 million people across Yemen need humanitarian assistance and protection services – 1.3 million people more than last year (Source HNRP).

Life in displacement

Halima, a 37-year-old displaced mother of four daughters and one son. Halima’s husband became ill after the conflict and is unable to work, leaving the family struggling to meet their basic needs. They forced to flee their home in Al-Houban, a district in the Taiz governorate of Yemen, due to escalating clashes in the area. The family was displaced to Al-Khokha district with no relatives or support provider to rely on. Halima faced severe economic hardship and she become the sole breadwinner of the family after her husbend health condition. Halima also had lost her daughters’ educational documents which preventing them from enrolling in school and pursuing their dreams.

The need for support

Halima heard about the Danish Refugee Council’s (DRC) Women Community Center (WCC) that offers psychosocial support. She went to the center and attended the sessions. During these sessions, the team learned that her most urgent need was to help her daughters return to school. The DRC facilitators worked to obtain replacement certificates so that Halima’s daughters can continue their education. The DRC facilitators also went to the school administration to ease the enrollment process. The school required registration fees, documentation, uniforms, and schoolbags.

Because Halima lived outside the area eligible for cash assistance, the facilitators organized community donations to cover the essential costs, allowing the girls to return to school in a safe and stable environment.

Impact of the assistance

To strengthen the protection and dignity of the most vulnerable crisis-affected populations, and with support from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), DRC provided Halima with psychosocial support sessions that offered her a safe space and a sense of belonging. She was one of 519 individuals who received psychosocial support between October 2024 and October 2025.

The assistance enabled Halima to develop new skills and regain confidence. This positive transformation extended to her daughters, who returned to school with enthusiasm and joy, rediscovering hope and aspirations for the future. The family’s emotional well-being improved significantly, and a renewed sense of optimism grew among them.

Today, Halima has become a source of inspiration for other women at the center. She participates actively in activities, supports newcomers, and proudly follows her daughters’ progress at school. The center has become a place of safety and belonging for the family, and the support provided has transformed their journey—from a state of uncertainty to tangible hope and a promising future.

My daughters’ lives and mine changed. I learned sewing at the center and now make dresses by myself. It fills me with pride and happiness. As for my daughters, today they are all in school. I see them excited and eager to learn again, and my heart overflows with joy. I thank God and the DRC facilitators who helped me transform my life and my daughters’ lives.

Halima, a displaced mother in Yemen