Hunger in Yemen

It was actually just a routine checkup, 
but the diagnosis that Reyam's uterus 
lacked amniotic fluid made a vital 
cesarean section necessary. And the 
hospital equipped for this was far too 
far from Reyam's small hometown.

Pregnancy in Yemen accompanied by worries
For over a decade, hunger, violence, 
and political instability have shaped 
the daily lives of civilians in Yemen. 
Not only the economy and supply networks 
are weakened, but also the healthcare 
system. The consequences hit expectant mothers 
particularly hard. Maternal mortality in 
Yemen is among the highest in the world. 
The most common reasons include a lack of 
medical infrastructure or simply a lack 
of money.

260 kilometers to life-saving treatment 
Pregnant Reyam was also affected by 
precisely these problems. After the 
threatening diagnosis for mother and 
child, it was important to act quickly: 
The medical coordination center Yemen 
Emergency Medical Assistance (YEMA), 
supported by our alliance organization 
ADRA, was activated. The goal of the 
project is to improve access to basic 
health services and strengthen the 
medical infrastructure. To save the life 
of Reyam and her baby, the team organized 
a rapid transfer of the 24-year-old to a 
hospital in Aden. The journey was long, 
as the country's fourth-largest city is 
260 kilometers from Reyam's village. From 
transportation to the necessary bureaucracy 
to cost coverage: all necessary steps were 
coordinated with the support of ADRA. Upon 
arrival, the hospital team immediately 
prepared Reyam for the surgery. The cesarean 
section was successful, and a healthy boy 
was born.

A good start to their lives together
The support for Reyam and her son didn't 
end with the birth. ADRA provided them with 
diapers, baby formula, and clothing to 
ensure a good start to their lives together. 
Their story is a good example of how 
humanitarian aid works and can save lives. 
ADRA is one of the many aid organizations in 
the German Aid Alliance (Aktion Deutschland Hilft) 
that provides humanitarian aid to the people of 
Yemen. 
Thank you to everyone who supports this 
effort with donations.