Saddam, a father from the remote Al Zuhrah district in Al Hudaydah, Yemen, faced an unimaginable challenge when his son was born with severe health complications.

“His body was so weak,” Saddam recalls. “He was always sick, crying, his skin stuck to his bones.”

Despite his wife’s efforts to breastfeed their child, the boy’s condition continued to deteriorate. Living in a village where employment is unstable and access to healthcare is limited, Saddam struggled to find answers—or help.

“I don’t have a stable job. I work wherever I can, whenever the opportunity arises,” he explains. 

The nearest health centre is 10 kilometres away, serving over 20 villages. The burden on this facility is immense. In turn, for many families like Saddam’s, reaching it is a challenge in itself.

A ray of hope for families like Saddam’s

Yet when Islamic Relief began supporting malnutrition interventions in the area, a ray of hope appeared. 

Saddam’s son was referred by Islamic Relief to a hospital in Abs. There, he was admitted into intensive care for close observation. Thanks to continuous follow-up, regular checkups, and the provision of proper medication and nutrition, his son’s condition began to improve.

“We now have weekly appointments. They give him the right vitamins and nutrition every time we go,” Saddam says. “He’s doing much better than before. Alhamdulillah.” 

Though he admits he doesn’t fully understand the leading reasons behind malnutrition, Saddam speaks with clarity about its root causes: poverty, lack of employment, and the inability of parents to provide basic needs. “When fathers can’t find jobs, they can’t take care of their families. That’s what leads to illnesses like this.” 

Despite these hardships, Saddam’s gratitude is powerful and deeply felt. “I just want to say thank you to Islamic Relief for taking care of our children and listening to their suffering.” 

His story is a testament to the importance of accessible healthcare and nutrition support in crisis-affected communities. To the resilience of parents fighting to save their children, one small victory at a time.