Barran Press | Report - Mohammed Al-Hajibi
Taiz, Yemen: Abdulkarim Al-Sufi, a young man from the village of "Al-Tweer" in the western rural area of Taiz Governorate, used to work in date farming, relying on this profession to provide for his family's needs. However, the war forced him to flee his village and leave his farm behind.
At the beginning of 2021, the rural village became a battleground between the forces of the internationally recognized Yemeni government and Houthi rebels, who are listed as a terrorist organization. This forced the residents of "Al-Tweer," including Abdulkarim, to flee.
The village remains situated in the middle of the fighting, and despite the supposed truce, it is riddled with landmines and explosives. The Houthis planted these devices at the village entrances, along roads and pathways, and even in farms and around homes.
Many of the village's residents work in date palm cultivation, but the war forced them to abandon their homes and farms. Now, the mines and sniper fire from Houthi militants prevent their safe return.
Despite these security challenges, many villagers are risking their lives to return to their homes and farms, particularly during the date harvest season. They rely on this harvest as their primary source of income, which they lost due to the war and displacement.
A Dangerous Return
Al-Sufi is one of the villagers who decided to return to their farms despite the dangers. He told "Barran Press" that it was crucial to continue working despite the risks, emphasizing the importance of the date harvest for him and his family.
"Despite the dangers, we must return to our farm because it's our only source of income," he said. He added that, beyond being a source of livelihood, "We are trying to give our children hope and tell them that life goes on."
Um Munir, an elderly woman who sells dates, told "Barran Press" that she cannot abandon her work during every harvest season. She emphasized that she continues despite the difficulties they face.
Awad Qaid, another resident of Al-Tweer, spoke to "Barran Press" about his perilous journey back to his village to harvest and sell dates. He described the dangers and fears he encountered during his return, including mines and sniper fire from Houthi militants stationed in the area.
"Despite the risks, I had to return to harvest. Dates are our only source of income, and I can't abandon them. This is the situation of many villagers who were forced to leave their homes and farms in search of safety after the war launched by the Houthis," he said.
Despite everything, he said that many families decided to return to their date palm farms this season to harvest the dates, despite the numerous risks and challenges on the way back and during their work, including the danger of sniper fire and mines.
A Source of Income
The "date harvest" is an important season for many families in Al-Tweer, as it provides them with income to cover their expenses throughout the year, along with livestock raising.
Through the proceeds from date sales, these families can purchase food, clothing, and medicine for their members. This is why they are so eager to risk returning to their farms to harvest the palm fruits, as several date sellers told "Barran Press."
A Mine-Infested Journey
Many villagers who spoke to "Barran Press" complained about the widespread contamination of their areas with mines and explosive devices. They stressed that these pose a terrifying danger to the lives of farmers.
They said that Houthi militants deliberately planted these devices in the farms, making them a real threat to the lives of farmers while working or traveling to and from them.
Noura Ali, a woman who works selling dates, expressed her fears about the mines scattered in the area. However, she also emphasized the importance of dates in providing income for her family.
"We don't want to abandon the date-selling season. This is our heritage, and we want to continue working with it," Noura told "Bran Press."
Farmers in Al-Tweer face difficulties in moving around due to the consequences of the war, including the mines planted on main roads and secondary pathways. This makes it difficult to access the harvest and then transport it to the market, in addition to the high cost of transportation.
Nauman Abdo, a date farmer in Al-Tweer, said that he lives in a state of anxiety and fear while moving between homes in search of a safe haven for his family.
He added in his interview with "Barran Press" that he is determined to return to his farms in Al-Tweer to harvest the palm fruits, risking his life.
"I know there are great risks, but we have to preserve our source of income, especially in these difficult circumstances," he said.
Sadness and Hope
Awad Al-Maqtoob, a young man in his twenties, told "Barran Press" that he is saddened this year because many date sellers are absent due to the area being in the line of fire.
He confirmed that "dates" are a source of income for many families, hoping that "all families will return to their farms and be able to harvest dates safely."
Saeed Saleh, a displaced person in his fifties from Al-Tweer, told "Barran Press," "After the war broke out, I was forced to flee my village and leave everything behind." He added, "I used to work on my farm in Al-Tweer with my family safely."
Um Abdul Rahman, a displaced woman in her forties living in the Al-Hajeb camp for displaced people, told "Barran Press," "We used to live a peaceful life before the conflict. Now our lives have been destroyed as a result of the war and displacement." But hope for a return to normal life remains.
The country has been witnessing a continuous war for the tenth consecutive year since the Houthi group, listed as a terrorist organization, invaded the Yemeni capital, Sana'a, on September 21, 2014. This invasion spread to most of the Yemeni governorates.
"Mines" are one of the forms of suffering left behind by the devastating war. Estimates indicate that the Houthi group planted about 2 million mines and explosive devices throughout the country, making them a serious danger threatening the lives of Yemenis, restricting their daily movements, and considered by experts as one of the causes of the humanitarian crisis facing the country.