Yemen: Livestock production support breeds hope amidst challenges
Ali Saeed, 63, faced a hard life as a woodcutter in Al-Jahili, a profession that only grew harder to sustain as he became older and his physical condition deteriorated. However, the need to look after his seven children and sick wife left him with few choices.
FAO
06/06/2024
To support the livelihoods of families like Ali’s and reduce poverty and hunger, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations implemented the "Integrated livelihoods support project for food-insecure areas in Dhubab district, Taiz Governorate" with support from the Central Emergency and Response Fund. Through the project, 1 500 families received cash assistance (two instalments of USD 117 each) coupled with nutritional training, salt cubes (15 kg/household), wheat bran (150 kg/household), fodder and four goats.
These goats not only kept hunger at bay for the family, but also helped them meet some of their nutritional needs and improve their livelihood. “They are my source of income. My family and I faced constant hunger, but we now sell milk and cheese to feed ourselves,” Ali said. Livestock rearing has also reduced some of the pressure on his body. “Given my physical disability, I can no longer do hard labour,” he explained.
Ali also received two cash assistance grants, which he used to provide food and medication for his family. “This support came at the right time, given our dire conditions,” he said. Together with the nutrition training, Ali and his family can now cover some of their needs while cooking more sustainably to reduce waste. "When we cooked before, a lot of it went to waste. Now, we cook smarter, so more of the food is conserved."
In addition to helping them meet their immediate needs, the project enabled the family to plan for the future. “I will breed the goats, raise the offspring, then sell the males, and keep the females to breed,” Ali said as he explained his vision. “In two years, I expect to have 12 goats, and in three, 24."
Khamisah: from poverty and hunger to self-sufficiency
Khamisah Mohammed, a 40-year-old mother of ten children is another beneficiary of the project. "Every day, my children and I used to eat only rice for lunch, and sometimes we ate bread dipped in tea,” she said. Although this humble meal kept them alive, it did not provide her children with the nutrition they needed. “My children suffered from malnutrition” she added.
Through the project, Khamisah received cash assistance (USD 117), which she used to buy flour, a carton of sauce, a gallon of oil, rice, vegetables, meat, canned food, beans, and some medicine. Now she can and her children can enjoy more colourful meals, prepared with different combinations of bread, barley, potatoes, lentils and fish. “We can now eat what we want, and I can buy many of the things my children need,” she added.
Khamisah received a second cash grant (USD 117), helping her to cover additional needs. In the absence of job opportunities in her village due to the lasting impacts of the conflict, and with many residents having lost their livelihoods, this support was critical to the family.
Supporting the resilience of those most in need
Abdulaleem Al-Kanani, a monitoring and evaluation officer at FAO’s implementing partner, described the phased approach of the project. In the first phase, cash assistance was provided, followed by fattening inputs such as wheat bran and salt cubes, and ending with the distribution of goats. "I am very happy because we are supporting the vulnerable people in these areas,” he said. “My joy doubles when I see their situation improve and they can face life's difficulties by relying on the inputs provided,” he added, hoping that the project will continue to grow and expand over time.