Funded by the International Islamic Charity Organization (IICO) in the State of Kuwait, the Communication Foundation for Humanitarian Development inaugurated the first phase of the Elaf Residential Village in the Al-Zahari District of the Mokha Directorate in the Yemeni Governorate of Taiz under the slogan “Kuwait is by your side”. The project represents a new turning point in the lives of displaced Yemeni families affected by the effects of the ongoing conflict in the country.

Furthermore, this project came to provide safe, multi-service shelter for displaced families who lost their homes and lands due to the war, and who have lived for a long time under the burden of displacement, hunger, and daily suffering. This project is a new step towards improving the lives of families affected by the war and achieving sustainability.

The village, which was designed according to architectural specifications, includes 50 residential units equipped with everything necessary for stable housing, in addition to being provided with a solar energy system that ensures the sustainability of electricity provision and meets the needs of the displaced people forcibly displaced from their areas.

Moreover, the housing unit, which consists of two rooms, a courtyard, a kitchen, and a bathroom, provides a safe shelter that guarantees a decent life for families forced by the war to move to dilapidated displacement camps that do not block out the heat or protect from the cold, under difficult conditions and a harsh life.

The project also includes an integrated water drainage network, in addition to a well equipped with a pump and a solar system with a water-pumping network, to ensure the provision of clean and healthy water to the residents, which is of utmost importance in light of the difficulties facing areas affected by the conflict in obtaining clean water.

In addition, the IICO was keen to include a mosque in the village that can accommodate 300 worshippers, to be a place of worship and performance of Islamic rituals. As well as an integrated health center to meet the health needs of the residents, which is an important step towards improving the health status of the displaced who suffer from diseases due to the harshness of displacement life.

The services were not limited to basic facilities only but also included landscaping, sidewalk construction, and street lighting, which enhances the quality of life in the village and contributes to improving the environment surrounding families.

Furthermore, the Elaf Housing Project comes at a critical time, as the Yemeni people suffer from the effects of the ongoing war, which has forced them into a life of displacement in displacement camps and unsafe areas.

With poverty and homelessness on the rise, the residential village was a ray of hope for those who had lost security and stability in their lives.

The village targeted 50 Yemeni families who were displaced from their villages and homes due to the conflict, and it provides them with a more stable and safer environment, away from the dangers of displacement in the deserts and the ongoing threats.

One of the beneficiaries of the project said, “Having lost everything and displaced from our homes, we were living in the desert, facing the harshness of life including hot and cold weather and impoverished life every day. Today, with the grace of Allah and the support of the people of Kuwait to this project, we found a place where we can feel safety and comfort, which brought to us a portion of hope and life once again.” 

Moreover, the Elaf Residential Project is considered a role model for providing humanitarian support to families affected by war. Those in charge of the project have stressed that the continuity of support for this type of projects is an urgent necessity to alleviate the suffering of the displaced and provide them with hope for a safe and stable new life.

Amid the ongoing war, such humanitarian initiatives remain a very important light in the lives of affected families, as they make significant contributions towards improving their humanitarian and living conditions.

During the inauguration, Yemeni officials praised the support of the State of Kuwait's leadership, government, people, and charitable institutions, pointing out that Kuwait's goodness has hardly stopped flowing in the various governorates of Yemen for decades.

They added, “Kuwait always amazes us with its continuous and permanent giving through launching development and relief projects and standing by the Yemeni people in times of hardship and crises, stressing that these projects have a profound impact on the souls of the simple displaced people.”

In addition, the project beneficiaries expressed their deep gratitude to the State of Kuwait for its humanitarian support, which contributed to alleviating the suffering of the displaced due to the repercussions of the war.

It is noteworthy that the foundation stone for the village construction project was laid in March 2024 in the presence of a host of Yemeni officials and those interested in charitable and humanitarian work.

It is also noteworthy that the second phase of the project includes about 100 residential apartments with other service accessories. The IICO has been keen to provide all forms of support to the brotherly Yemeni people by launching housing, health, educational, relief, and other projects, to contribute to alleviating their suffering and making various efforts to restore security and stability to displaced communities, in cooperation with local charitable organizations.