Terhi Teiskonlahti 
Fida’s humanitarian work to support people living amid conflict in Yemen is back on track. After nearly a year-long pause, the programme has received new funding and resumed operations.
The humanitarian crisis in Yemen has deepened year after year since the on-going conflict began in 2014.
Today, around 17 million people continue to suffer from hunger*, while the country also faces severe water shortages and inadequate sanitation and hygiene conditions.
According to the UN, over 19 million people in Yemen are now in need of humanitarian assistance* — over a million more than last year.
The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs granted Fida €690,000 to continue its work in Yemen in 2025. The programme focuses on strengthening food security, improving access to clean water and sanitation, and providing psychosocial support.
Fida’s private donors also played a vital role by supporting a fundraising campaign held at the end of 2024. Thanks to this combined support we were able to restart the programme after nearly a year-long pause.
Food assistance helps reduce the risk of human trafficking
Fida provides food aid to families in particularly vulnerable situations and also supports food security by training people in basic farming skills.
– Our aid reaches, for example, female-headed households or families with members living with disabilities. Women and children are especially vulnerable to violence and human trafficking in areas affected by conflict. By ensuring access to food and supporting families in meeting their basic needs, we can significantly reduce the risk of trafficking, says Maija Saarni, Fida’s Head of Humanitarian Assistance.
Food distributions offer real help to families struggling with daily survival. For example Asma**, a mother of five, was forced to flee her home with her family from the Sana’a region. Displacement brought insecurity and daily worries about how to feed her children.
At first, finding work was difficult, but eventually, Asma found farm work in a nearby village. She also took on occasional jobs to cover her children’s school costs. For families living in poverty, dropping out of school is all too common.
– I have suffered so much. I’ve had to neglect my home and my children just to keep our family going. But I’m a living proof that change is possible. We were included in the food assistance programme, and it lifted a heavy burden off my shoulders. Thank you!
Supporting mental well-being
The prolonged crisis has taken a serious toll on the mental health of many Yemenis. According to the WHO, one in four Yemenis suffers from trauma or severe stress, but mental health services are available to just two percent of the population.
With Fida’s support, a local partner organisation runs psychosocial support groups for both adults and children. These groups help participants better understand their mental well-being, recognise challenges, and strengthen everyday coping skills with practical tools.
– It’s a great joy to have Fida partnering with us! The Fida staff have continually provided caring guidance as we navigate the challenges that come with serving in this part of the world. Fida has continued to strengthen our work and has provided us the opportunity to invest in the lives of Yemenis in positive and transformational ways, says **Megan, project coordinator for Fida’s local partner organisation.
Hope for a better tomorrow
Yemenis dream of the same things as anyone else: that their children grow up happy, healthy, and full of hope for the future. They long to see peace and well-being return to their homeland.
Through this project, Fida wants to be part of making those dreams come true — one step at a time.
– We would appreciate your prayers that true peace and lasting stability would come to this region, Megan shares with Fida’s supporters in Finland.
* Sources: https://www.wfpusa.org/countries/yemen/ and https://www.unocha.org/yemen
**Full names omitted for safety reasons
