Eid in the Time of War in Yemen · Global Voices
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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)
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:
#عدن وأبطالها وحدهم من يستحقون أن يفرحوا في هذا العيد .. شكرا لهم فلولا انتصارهم وبطولاتهم لكان عيدنا هذا العام مليئ بالماسي والهموم! #اليمن
— مجاهدالسّلالي #اليمن (@m_alsallaly) July 17, 2015
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.
#كاريكاتير | إستعدادت اليمن لإستقبال العيد .. بريشة: د.علاء اللقطه http://t.co/ETxI3cxNT4 pic.twitter.com/Wl2nNiydHL
— #اليمن الآن (@YmnNow) July 18, 2015
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.
If only the Houthis would do Yemenis the favour of withdrawing from Taiz, Sanaa, Marib, etc : what a great Eid Al Fitr it would be in Yemen.
— Haykal Bafana (@BaFana3) July 14, 2015
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:
On the even of Eid, end of fasting celebration, Taiz is under heavy shelling by #Houthi and Saleh forces. #Yemen https://t.co/VEKLnbHmTJ
— Nadwa (@Ndawsari) July 17, 2015
Hisham Al-Omeisy tweets about airstrikes on Sana'a:
Seriously KSA! Airstrikes now in Sana'a! On EID! While masses on street for Eid morning prayers! #Yemen
— Hisham Al-Omeisy (@omeisy) July 17, 2015
Abdulkader Alguneid says worshippers performed Eid prayers to the sound of shelling:
صلاة العيد، في#تعز، في ساحة الحرية، وأصوات مدافع #صالح و #الحوثي، لا تنقطع #اليمن #Taiz pic.twitter.com/Bzka8asyZh
— abdulkader alguneid (@alguneid) July 17, 2015
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:
Eid Al Fitr in #Yemen capital Sanaa : #Saudi jets scream overhead even as Eid prayers on in mosques. Saudi pilots don't pray, apparently.
— Haykal Bafana (@BaFana3) July 17, 2015
And Ammar Al-Aulaqi shares this photograph, which he says sums up the Eid spirit:
Well…I guess the picture says it all. Eid Mubarak from war-torn, really tired Yemen! pic.twitter.com/z0j7O7YrDb
— Ammar Al-Aulaqi (@ammar82) July 17, 2015
Oxfam shared a blog post by one of its staff members in Yemen, Hind M. Aleryani:
Eid is upon us. But it doesn’t feel like Eid in #Yemen. http://t.co/bbeDzEl6Fh Oxfam staff blog from #YemenCrisis pic.twitter.com/a7d47PBNKv
— Oxfam International (@Oxfam) July 16, 2015
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:
Despite the KSA war,Yemenis heading 2 mosques,celebrating eid with freinds& visiting relatives.Eid Mubarak Ali #Yemen pic.twitter.com/3v3wjhhwkq
— Fatik Al-Rodaini (@Fatikr) July 17, 2015
And Nasser Arrabyee shares a selfie with his wife:
Happy selfy in happy Eid with my wife Radhia despite Saudi aggression on our country Yemen! pic.twitter.com/Hs7Xfx3PPm
— Nasser Arrabyee (@narrabyee) July 18, 2015
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.
العيد والطفولة، في #تعز #اليمن s Eid & Childhood, in #Taiz #Yemen pic.twitter.com/Ard3LxZRel
— abdulkader alguneid (@alguneid) July 18, 2015
Journalist Mohammed Jamjoom reflected on what Yemen needs most this Eid.
You know what would help make it a Happy Eid in #Yemen? Some peace for a population desperately in need of humanitarian relief #AidforEid
— Mohammed Jamjoom (@MIJamjoom) July 16, 2015
What would help make it a Happy #Eid in #Yemen? if more than 1 million people displaced by conflict could return to their homes #AidforEid
— Mohammed Jamjoom (@MIJamjoom) July 16, 2015
Correspondent Jane Ferguson urged prayers for Yemen during Eid:
Imagine how hard #Eid is today for families in #Yemen. No electricity, food, water, little hope. Say a prayer for Yemenis. #Sanaa #Aden
— Jane Ferguson (@JaneFerguson5) July 17, 2015
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.
#عيدنا_لن_يموت ! عمل فني يستحق المشاهدة .. http://t.co/uaclw7jcyE
— TaizCity – مدينة تعز (@taizcity) July 17, 2015
Yet the real Eid as Alaa Isam noted is when peace and development prevail in Yemen:
The real Eid is when peace prevails all Yemen and everyone involved in the process of sustainable development #Yemen #Aden
— AlaaIsam (@AlaaIsam) July 16, 2015