Yamanyoon
Amr, 25-year-old has lived in Yemen
“I think all the Yemeni people dream for this whole nonsense war to stop,” says Amr, the 25-year-old has lived in Yemen most of his life, but now he doesn’t recognise his own country.
“People are losing their lives, losing their homes, losing their sources of income, and no one outside cares about what is going on here.”
“We’ve gotten used to the airstrikes”
The difference from the Yemen he used to know, and the one he sees now, is huge. Amr lived his entire life here before going to study abroad. When he returned in late 2016, there was a war. “The difference has shocked me.”
Since violence intensified in the capital of Sana’a in late November, many people are conscious of just how quickly things can change.
If he’s lucky, Amr is able to sleep through the night without being awakened by airstrikes, and fuel will be available when needed.
“Three months ago, when they imposed the blockade, the fuel prices first doubled, then tripled. We were not able to move by car, not only because of the prices, but because there wasn’t enough fuel.”
According to Amr, sheltering from airstrikes has become an everyday habit for Yemenis.
“We’ve really gotten used to the airstrikes. If we hear an aeroplane, we’ll prepare ourselves psychologically, expecting that something will explode.”
No media attention
A great frustration for Amr is how little people seem to know about his country.
“I’ve traveled a lot, and whenever I tell people that I’m from Yemen, they usually assume Yemen is one of the rich countries. This is completely wrong. Yemen is actually one of the poorest countries in the world.”
Additionally, the media seems to be equally disinterested. Little media attention has been given to the crisis, failing to shed light on the situation as things continue to get worse by the day. The main seaport and airport are closed, while the economy collapses driving prices up.
“There have been almost no efforts to intervene or to stop what is happening. No one is reaching for international mediation. Nothing has happened.”
“In early 2015, 1 USD equalled around 214 Yemeni rial, now 1 USD equals around 500 Yemeni rial, so you can imagine the change, the poverty.”
Before the war
Before the war, Amr recalls, people had jobs and the government was able to pay them their salaries.
They had the ability to go away, and to travel. Now, the airport in Sana’a is closed to all commercial flights. If people want to travel, they must make a day’s long drive to the only active airports in the country. Yemen national airways is the only airline serving the country.
Before the war, Amr would stay at his friends’ house late on the weekends. Now, people never know what is going to happen during the night, so they go home before 9 pm.
“Before, whenever I heard an aeroplane” he says, “I would think about the airport. Now, I only think about the airstrike. Where is it going to hit?”
Even the way people interact with each other has changed. Before people used to have patience, now they are psychologically and emotionally drained because of the ongoing situation.
“Yemen is not a country born from war,” he says. “People here never knew about airstrikes or the ground clashes, we never saw people fighting on the street like they do now.”
Despite the bleak outlook, Amr calls himself an optimist.
“I’m an optimist. I always like to think that things will get better, that this whole nonsense war will stop,” he says.
Leaving the country could not be further from his mind.
“This is my country, Yemen is the place where I plan to grow older, to get married and have children. But I’m always hoping for a better future, just keeping my fingers crossed, you know.”