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Eid in the Time of War in Yemen

A small portrait of Noon Arabia
Written byNoon Arabia
Posted 20 July 2015 18:13 GMT

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"Eid Mubarak but this man has no eid all of his family's members killed by KSA regime Muhamasheen area in Sanaa #Yemen," tweets Fatik Al-Rodaini (@Fatikr)

“Eid Mubarak but this man has no eid all of his family's members killed by KSA regime Muhamasheen area in Sanaa #Yemen,” tweets Fatik Al-Rodaini (@Fatikr)

Yemenis marked Eid with more airstrikes and bloodshed.

The country has been witnessing an all front war since March 25, 2015, when Saudi led airstrikes hit the capital Sanaa, to fight the Houthi takeover of the capital and most of Yemen. Even the Holy month of Ramadan didn't bring about the urgently needed humanitarian ceasefire in war torn Yemen.

News of the “liberation” of Yemen's second largest city Aden after four months of devastating fighting between Houthi and former Yemeni president Ali Abdulla Saleh militias aggression and the Southern popular resistance defending the city, was a joyful news to welcome Eid Al Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan.

Journalist Mojahed alsallaly commended Adenis heroism in liberating their city:

Aden and its heroes are the only ones who deserve to be happy in this Eid. Thanks to them, if not for their victory and heroism, our Eid this year would have been full of misery and anxiety! #Yemen

A cartoon was circulating on social media depicting the popular resistance ridding Yemen of rodents during Eid.

Cartoon: Preparations for receiving Eid in Yemen | Depicted by Dr. Alaa Allakta

Haykal Bafana, who lives in Sanaa, made a wish that many Yemeni hoped would make the Eid special.

Yet the Saudi airstrikes and Houthi and Saleh militia aggression continued across Yemen even during the Eid celebration as noted by many tweeps.

Nadwa reports heavy shelling in Taiz:

Hisham Al-Omeisy tweets about airstrikes on Sana'a:

Abdulkader Alguneid says worshippers performed Eid prayers to the sound of shelling:

Eid prayer in Taiz, at Freedom Square, with the non-stop sound of shelling from tanks

Back in Sana'a, Haykal Bafana reports jets overhead as the Eid prayers continued in mosques:

And Ammar Al-Aulaqi shares this photograph, which he says sums up the Eid spirit:

Oxfam shared a blog post by one of its staff members in Yemen, Hind M. Aleryani:

Hind M. Aleryani wrote in her blog post:

Eid is upon us. But it doesn’t feel like Eid. Fighting in Yemen has not ceased throughout the month of Ramadan – in fact it intensified. The upcoming holiday is meant to encourage forgiveness, charity, remembrance of God and generosity to ones neighbors. It’s also an opportunity to get members of the family together in celebration. This year is different.
Airstrikes and fighting have become staples of everyday life in Yemen.

She also offered solutions to put an end to the conflict:

So how are we going to get out of this mess? A permanent ceasefire would be a good start, one that all sides adhere to. We also need an arms embargo to stop the flow of weapons into Yemen. Fighting will inevitably cease when all parties in the current conflict run out of arms and ammunition.

Also, restrictions on imports need to be lifted, otherwise more people could die as a result of the lack of supplies than from the bullets and bombs….we should put our differences aside and work towards the common good, through negotiations, reconciliations and compromises.

Despite the war, some Yemenis still managed to go on with their routine and celebrate the Eid as usual.

Fatik Al-Rodaini says the war did not hamper some Yemenis from celebrating:

And Nasser Arrabyee shares a selfie with his wife:

Sadly, Yemen's children had a new role game to play during this Eid, mimicking the fighting they had been living through for the past four months.

Journalist Mohammed Jamjoom reflected on what Yemen needs most this Eid.

Correspondent Jane Ferguson urged prayers for Yemen during Eid:

A group of Yemeni youth made a powerful video, directed by Maha Elaghil, to send out a message that despite the killing and violence Yemen will still be celebrating Eid.

Yet the real Eid as Alaa Isam noted is when peace and development prevail in Yemen:

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A small portrait of Noon Arabia
Written byNoon Arabia

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