NOOR SURIB

Yemen- Wherever a war breaks out; people suffer from tragedies, conflicts, sabotage, and plunder after their hometown is taken under the control of terrorist organizations. This situation mostly affects the lives of women and poses a threat to them. Abyan governorate is one of these places. We spoke to Anda Al-Salahi, who has faced the reality of war and kept working for her society despite all challenges.

39-year-old Anda Al-Salahi lives in the Khanfar village, a southern suburb of Jaʿār in the Abyan Governorate of south-western Yemen. She is the director of the Ensan Foundation for Development. She told our new agency about the works of the foundation.

“I began to carry our social works in 2008. Most of my works was on voluntary education, rehabilitation, and human development. I kept working despite all difficulties that Abyan went through. The Ensan Foundation for Development was founded because such organizations were needed.”

Anda Al-Salahi talked about the education situation in the governorate, “Life stopped,” she said;

“The governorate witnessed catastrophic events and social services are still insufficient. Poverty, illiteracy among women, and child marriage have been worsening the situation in the governorate. Then, strikes and coronavirus broke out. What we are going through is a catastrophe. Our governorate has been trapped between two wars. I still remember what happened on May 27, 2011, when Abyan evolved into an armed conflict; the war of Al-Qaeda. We faced many terrible things that will not be forgotten forever. I remember everything as if it happened only yesterday. When Al-Qaeda announced their takeover of Abyan, the governorate became a dangerous place for everyone. I isolated myself from the world. Our hometown was a trade center but it turned into a ghost city. Everyone left the governorate except for some families, who couldn’t leave their houses and live somewhere else.”

Her name was in the execution list prepared by Al-Qaeda militants

Anda Al-Salahi also fled the governorate. “When the terrorist group took the control of the governorate, I experienced something that I will not forget until I die. I wanted to stay and fight. The terrorist militants began to distribute a list on the streets. The list included the names of people, who would be executed by Al-Qaeda. My name also was on that list. I had to leave Abyan to not be executed. I went to El-Horour, five hours away from Aden governorate. After 10 years of the Al-Qaeda war and nearly six years of the Houthi war, Abyan was liberated but an ideological war started after the liberation. The war has turned into a struggle to survive. Yes, Abyan becomes a safer place and people can express their thoughts and opinion but we have to think about what we can eat every day and rebuilding Abyan.”

“We need peace and security”

Anda Al-Salahi talked about the empowerment of women in Abyan, “Empowering women in Abyan is not difficult. The women of Abyan are open-minded. They have some traditions and customs but they can struggle in the economic, social, and political fields if they trust in their own strength and dreams. However, the government doesn’t have strong programs to empower women. The women of Abyan are prevented from being empowered.”

Call on the Yemeni people

Anda Al-Salahi called on all people living in Yemen, “Protect the capacity of the land and use the energy of human development for the next generations. They should educate their children. They should send their children to school because we can overcome all difficulties when we have educated people.”