Sa'ada Governorate is considered one of the most important governorates in the field of agricultural production, as it is famous for the best types of Yemeni coffee (Al-Khawlani), which is grown in the village of Bani Bahr in the Saqeen District and the village of Jum`ah Bin Fadel in the District of Haidan.
It is also well-known for the unparalleled production of different types of fruits including pomegranate, grapes and Sa'adi black raisins of the best quality. However, it has been exposed to blatant attacks from the parties to the conflict since the beginning of the conflict.
In May 2015, the coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE declared the province of Sa'ada an area of active military operations, especially the northern districts, such as: Kitaf, al-Baqa’, Shada, al-Zahir, and Razih, which turned it into ghost areas with nothing but whistling winds on trees and the remains of birds and pets.
As a result, the villagers, who left their residences, turned into internally displaced and poor people waiting for the scarce humanitarian aids, after the approval of the Humanitarian Council, at a time when civilians from the governorate were tightened, and accused of belonging to the Houthi group based on their personal identity, which limited their movements to the other governorates
On the other hand, the Ansar Allah group (Houthis) tightens the noose on civilians who belong to the governorate's geography, preventing them from obtaining an identity card or passport except according to arbitrary and incapacitating procedures, and they are also prohibited from working in the southern Saudi governorates.
The farmer, Muhammad, went to Al-Ashiah area, Harf Sufyan District, Ammran Governorate, where the largest black market in Yemen for oil derivatives, and finally found 20 liters of diesel. Mohammad returned with joy to save his farm and restore the spirit to his livestock, but as soon as he reached the Al Ammar check point in the Al-Safra district, all his dreams were shattered.
Samples of suffering
In the village of Adhula, in the district of Al-Hashwah, Mohammad Hussein (65 years old), lives with his family, which consists of five members. He inherited from his father a land of no more than 300 square meters, on which he planted types of grains and alfalfa to provide fodder for the cow he owned, helping him to provide his family's needs of milk, laban and butter.
Muhammad is an example for the suffering of farmers and the agricultural sector in general in this rich agricultural production governorate. Lately he no longer gets diesel to run the well's generator in order to pump water for drinking and farming. Therefore, Mohammad decided to go to the representative of the Yemeni Oil and Petroleum Company, but he did not offer him any solutions, and only said: “The rain will come soon and you will not need anything,” but Muhammad could not wait any longer, because his livestock became hungry, and did not stop mooing.
After being hapless and exhausted, Muhammad decided to travel to the city of Sa'ada (82 km away from his village). He rented a car from Al-Hashwa car station, for an amount of 8,000 riyals in order to obtain 20 liters of diesel, but to no avail, he thought he might find his way to the oil company's branch in the city. He petitioned the general manager for 20 liters, but the latter promised him to put his name on the list.
The farmer, Muhammad, went to Al-Ashiah area, Harf Sufyan District, Amran Governorate, where the largest black market in Yemen for oil derivatives is located. He could finally found 20 liters of diesel so that Mohammad returned with joy to save his farm and restore the spirit to his livestock, but as soon as he reached the Al Ammar check point in the Al-Safra district, all his dreams were shattered.
The check point supervisor confiscated the quantity of diesel under the pretext that it is illegal, and that this behavior will open the way for others do the same. Mohammad tried to explain his situation and his family critical need, but to no avail, so he returned - disappointed - to his home. There, his wife and children welcomed him, and asked him: Where is the diesel? He found nothing to say other than his tears. The wife knew that the situation had reached the intolerable, so she advised him to sell the livestock even though it represented the economic resource of the family, but there was no other option, either sell them or die of hunger. This is how Mohammad was obligated to sell his living source while biting his fingertips. This is how Mohammad turned to a worthless.
