How are Yemen's Women living?

by Hagar Ibrahim (Egypt)

A leap into the unknown Yemen

On Thursday at 12:40am why are you calling late honey ?! I will fly with Ali at 9am to Yemen, his father very sick. Oh sorry, but don't go with him, the situation is still terrible and violent there, your life will be at stake. please don't go. Five years ago, you objected to traveling with him for the same reasons, I can’t do that this time, sorry mum. I checked my WhatsApp messages, one from a close friend: Hey Nour Are you free tomorrow for a walk ? No, I will travel with Ali in the morning. Can I come with you? (laughing) Yes, if you want to go to Yemen. She kept silent for a while, then she said: Are you kidding?! The Yemen situation has emerged on social media, it’s so terrifying, there is famine, terrorism, ISIS forces used to dominate the region and recently my friend said to me they are killing women. Also, flights are not available all the time, if it becomes easy to go, it will be possible to come. I realize everything you say Sara, but each of us has the same background from our screens. Anyway, I can't let my husband go alone. I have decided to see the truth with my own eyes. Although I disregard all the fears which I’ve heard, there is some inside. It’s 6am. I woke Ali to prepare our luggage. After a while, during breakfast, Ali said: I was hoping this day would come. I hope you see my parents, my brothers and sisters, to see my room, my blue t-shirt which you liked in my old pictures, and the places which I used to spend time in. The beach that holds all my memories of my childhood. I shook because it was the first time he was telling me this. I took one final look at our apartment, I kept everything I love in its place and left. I’m scared if we are brought to attacked and miss it. 4 hours later from Egypt to Seiyun Airport, we reached finally to awful monster for all. My house is about 360 km from Mukalla, 2 hours by car. That's great I should wear Yemen’s customary dress. I don't like it anymore, but I must now wear the Niqab. I went to the toilet. Suddenly, I found myself odd amidst all these women. I was the only one who was wearing trousers and a t-shirt with without a veil. I changed my clothes and they were waiting for me with whimsical faces. I felt as if I was guilty. I was angry when I rode in the taxi but Ali didn’t notice. When I started crying, he said: You will see the kind of places you love. Most of the houses are built over mountains overlooking the Arabian sea, so the scenery is very amazing. The winter temperature now is 6 - 28 °C. I swapped him a wistful smile, but he didn't see any of my expressions and my emotions which were hidden behind this fabric that I put on my face! The black fabric soaked up all my tears. It became a little wet, but I can't lift it from my face, it's fault. On the way I couldn’t feel comfortable. I began to feel how Yemen's women struggle with their customs. It’s not easy for moving or walking, even in communication and getting to know their identity. I feel that there is a net falling on me and I can't get rid of it. After 7 minutes the taxi reckoned from nearest place was crowded with only women, if they need to eat or drink. I passed the small female curve and I took a look for a few minutes on the main street. It's lively, so peppy, people well adapted, whole stores are open and very active. People come and go in peace. No gangs, no terrorism, no famine as my friend had told me. No violent and terrible place as my mother had said. There is no war as the Social Media convinced us. In this moment I was happy because I will prove for all of them I’m in safety, no more scandals.