Mohammad's road home

In the city of Taiz, Yemen, 51-year-old Mohammad once earned a living as a fruit and vegetable vendor at the local market. He had a family, a home and a livelihood.

But in 2015, a devastating civil war erupted. Many families saw their homes destroyed, their lives uprooted, and their communities shattered.

Mohammad and his family were no exception. When violent clashes between local factions and Houthi rebels came to Taiz, the family had no choice but to flee.

They initially went to Al-Hawban, an area outside the city, for two years. After the rent became too expensive to continue living in Al-Hawban, they returned to Taiz.

But they couldn't move back into their house; local fighters had occupied the building to use as a field hospital.

By 2022, violence had calmed down in Taiz. But for the families who returned to the wreckage, the war was far from over.

When Mohammad finally went back to his house, he found it badly damaged – bombed by projectiles and littered with explosive remnants of war.

Explosive devices were strewn on the roof and inside the home. One wall was torn open where a projectile had exploded.

He tried not to let this stop him from rebuilding a life for his family. He brought in workers to repair the house, hoping to make it livable for his family. But when they saw the dangerous munitions, they refused.

That’s when he heard about HALO.

"I heard from the community leader about an organisation, The HALO Trust, who removes explosive remnants of war. I asked him to inform HALO about the projectiles in my house. Shortly after, HALO came and removed the item from my house," he said.

"After getting rid of it, I felt safe and secure as workers began restoring the house."

Today, Mohammad's dreams are simple: reconstructing his house, getting his family home safely, and living in peace. Removing the explosives brought him one big step closer to achieving those goals.

His greatest wish, though, is for every family to have that same hope for the future.