In Yemen, where more than 2 million children are out of school, those without birth certificates face some of the toughest challenges, according to a recent report by the International Organization for Migration (IOM)
IOM report found that across Yemen, 37 percent of adults lack a national ID and nearly half of all children do not have birth certificates, adding that the absence of documentation has created significant barriers for children trying to access education, and for those relying on cash-based assistance, formal identification has become a critical need.
The report noticed that without a proper form of identification, displaced families are cut off from basic services like healthcare and education, and their access to much-needed humanitarian aid is hindered.
Many people in the camps are poor that they can’t afford to obtain new documentation, even at checkpoints, they are often held for hours until a community leader can verify their identity.
Responding to these urgent needs, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has stepped in to provide critical support to thousands of displaced families in Marib, east of Yemen's capital, Sanaa.
Through this initiative, IOM’s Protection team aimed to address the lack of essential identification documents, ensuring children can access their basic rights. This initiative serves 3,500 children across 17 displacement sites in Ma’rib.
Birth certificates provide not only recognition but also serve as a vital lifeline, according to IMO report which concluded that the impact of this project reaches far beyond providing documents – it brings dignity and a sense of security to families who have been through so much.