Fatemeh is a 35-year-old mother of two children—a seven-year-old daughter and a nine-year-old son. During the first days of the conflict, her husband was killed while at his workplace. Since then, she has carried the sole responsibility for supporting her family and caring for her two young children.

The family lives in rented accommodation, and since the loss of her husband, they have only been able to pay the rent through financial assistance from relatives and by using the family’s limited savings. However, the rising cost of living and the high cost of housing have forced Fatemeh to make painful sacrifices. To keep a roof over their heads, the family has reduced spending on essential needs such as food, clothing, healthcare, and even the children’s education.

The loss of her husband meant far more than the loss of the family’s primary source of income. It also created a profound emotional void for both Fatemeh and her children. The children continue to struggle with the absence of their father, and the psychological impact of his death remains evident in their daily lives. At the same time, Fatemeh faces the constant anxiety of paying rent, meeting her children’s educational expenses, purchasing food and clothing, and covering healthcare costs, while striving to provide a sense of stability and security for her family despite overwhelming circumstances.

Fatemeh’s story demonstrates that the consequences of armed conflict extend far beyond the immediate loss of life. The death of a household’s primary breadwinner can leave families facing prolonged economic hardship, emotional trauma, and social vulnerability long after the conflict has ended.

This family is among the conflict-affected households identified through HAMI’s field assessments and needs-based vulnerability screening. Following individual case assessment, they were enrolled in HAMI’s humanitarian assistance programme, through which part of their urgent livelihood and humanitarian needs has been addressed with the support of humanitarian partners and donors