The Story of Nothing - Hunger crisis in Yemen

People selling their goods, sleeping during the day, families marrying off their young daughters… Because almost half of the yemenis do not have enough to eat, living with less than $2 a day. Two years ago, during the Arab Spring, the yemeni economy contracted by 50% and inflation reached 23%.

There is food in the markets but there is not enough money in the people’s pockets. The numbers are not far from the situation in Sahel in Africa or Afghanistan but surprisingly it is not attracting attention from the world.

267.000 children are at risk of death from malnutrition already.

International NGO's are releasing humanitarian aid in the vast and heavily populated district of Bayt al-Faqih in west Yemen, monitoring the food crisis and helping by distributing cash to the most impoverished families.

"Sometimes we go to bed and our stomachs hurt", said Aisha Mohammadiya, a very old woman by her house in a village called Bayt al-Faqir (the house of the poor).

Mothers with their children wait for attendance at a rural hospital which assists malnourished children in the impoverished district of Bayt al-Faqih, Yemen. Dr Yahya Hassan, who operates the outpatient clinic, says "some of the malnutrition cases in recent weeks are the worst I have seen in the past 2 years of working at the centre".

Ali Ahmad, a farmer from the inaccessible village of Al Kadha, shows where he stores the food for his family. He is the father of two kids, one is severely malnourished, the one year old girl Asrar.

Hend feeds her malnourished one year old daughter Rahaf with a plumpy nut, a fortified nutrition ration given by an NGO that operates in the area. Mohannad (2) is Rahafs brother. Hend gave him birth when she was 16 years old. Her husband, Fahman Salim (22), earns money as a taxi driver with a motorcycle which borrows from a friend for a few dolars a day. Attorba village.

Hend holds the minuscule body of her one year old malnourished daughter, Rahaf. Mohannad (2) is Rahafs brother. Hend gave him birth when she was 15 years old. Her husband, Fahman Salim (22), earns money as a taxi driver with a motorcycle which he borrows from a frined for a few dolars a day. Attorba village.

At the door of their house in Attorba village, Hend Mohammed (18) hold her severely malnourished one year old daughter, Rahaf.

Outskirts of Bayt al-Faqih city.

Men buying grain in a market. Bayt al-Faqih city.

Abdul Salam Yusuf (50), a carpenter from Bayt al-Faqih city, stands in his livingroom with two of his 12 children. His 15 months old son Abdul Majid is malnourished. Two of his older sons (25 and 17) are now working illegally in Saudi Arabia; one is a waiter and the other a carpenter too. He and his family are beneficiaries from one of the cash distributions programs that the international aid carries out in Bayt al-Faqih, one of the most impoverished districts in Yemen.

Brother of malnourished 1 year old Aisha in his house. Bayt al-Faqih.

A man waiting at one of the cash distributions that an NGO carries out in the schools of Bayt al-Faqih city.

Women waiting at one of the cash distributions that an NGO carries in the schools of Bayt al-Faqih city, Yemen.

Men waiting at one of the cash distributions that an NGO carries out in the schools of Bayt al-Faqih city.

Men waiting at one of the cash distributions that an NGO carries out in the schools of Bayt al-Faqih city.

A school in Bayt al-Faqih city.

Mother and son at a rural hospital where they assist malnourished children in the district of Bayt al-Faqih.

Rural hospital in the district of Bayt al-Faqih.

Rural hospital in the district of Bayt al-Faqih.

Mothers living closeby gather inside Hend Mohammed's house. Hend (18), is the mother of Rahaf, a severely malnourished 1 year old girl. She is pregnant and also has a 2 year old son. Attorba village.

Cemetery in the outskirts of Al-Salifeen village.

Attorba village

The house of Abdul Salam Yusuf (50), a carpenter from Bayt al-Faqih city. His 15 months old son Abdul Majid is malnourished. Two of his older sons (25 and 17) are now working illegally in Saudi Arabia; one is a waiter and the other a carpenter too. He and his family are beneficiaries from one of the cash distributions programs that the international aid carries out in Bayt al-Faqih, one of the most impoverished districts in Yemen.

Remas, malnourished, 16 month old girl. Al Salifeen village.

About the author:
Juan Herrero was born (1984) in a small town along the eucalyptus-scented northwestern coast of Spain; but he was raised in Madrid. Juan holds a BA in International Economics and Development from the Universidad Complutense of Madrid, having studied also in The Netherlands and Cuba. Recently Juan has been living in developing countries working on cooperation projects while evolving his understanding of photography.
Juan says: " I always had a burning desire to see more, which I have been able to sooth with a camera, opening me to a whole new level of perception in what I experience. My images often reflect my fascination with the human being and its conflicted existence, at the same time raising questions to myself as I try to comprehend my own path."

You can see more of Juan's amazing reportages on his website www.juanherrerophoto.com and you can follow him on Facebook .


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