Al-Mahra: When Citizens Starve and Alienated in their Homeland

At 6PM, we arrived at Al-Mahra during a sunset in the marvelous Southern governorate which is located on the borders with Oman. Luxury hotels are not prevalent in Al-Ghayda, the capital city of the governorate. In the streets, locals conditions are worse than expected.

Despite its strategic location, its land and maritime crossings, the local and regional feverish competition over it and being away from the war, Al-Mahra suffers from bad economic and humanitarian conditions.

From high prices and unemployment to the low wages of vocational and hard working jobs, the majority of marginalized people of Al-Mahra live in cruel conditions. Local officials blame the central government who is apparently helpless as the governorate is controlled by outsiders. 

While the Northerners in Al-Mahra dominate most public and private jobs that have high or medium salaries, the governorate’s citizens are largely denied holding such jobs. Additionally, the Northerners jostle with the governorate's citizens to hold the low income jobs. Even the public gardens and parks are guarded by employees from Sanaa, Taiz and other Northern governorates.

Many of Al-Mahra's citizens, interviewed by "South24", attributed this situation to the Northern military and security control on the governorate and the strong Northern influence over it. They said that the capabilities and the facilities provided to the Northerners have enabled the Northerners to seize control at the expense of original citizens.

During our tour, the streets of Al-Ghayda were exactly like Sanaa, as most people wear traditional Northern outfits. For a while, we feel that we live in the Northern capital unless the presence of those shops whose signboards carry the name of Al-Mahra which occasionally reminds you that you are here. This resembles the conditions in the nearby Hadramout Coast, from which we came, during the Sanaa central authority nearly a decade ago. 

"While many of Al-Mahra's people hold vocational jobs, the majority of them are the poorest and forced for generations to rely on modest or marginal jobs" according to the retired teacher Amin Amer who spoke to "South24".

He added: "Al-Mahra's citizens are largely deprived of holding high positions or high income jobs in both private companies and public institutions. Few of the governorate’s citizens are employed in important sectors such as electricity, communication, army and security."

However, Eng. Salem Al-Aboudi, Al-Mahra's Deputy for Technical Affairs, told "South24" that” it is not right that all who control the military and the security positions in Al-Mahra are from North". The official attributed the low Mahri representation in these two sectors to their lack of patience towards the delay in paying salaries for three months sometimes.

On the other hand, Mahri citizen Salem Basaioud told "South24": "It is not fair for the Mahri people to endure the government's failure to provide salaries and begging the Northerners to hold what can we make although the governorate's revenues are very big".

He added: "Finding a job for my eldest son Awad, in a private company in the governorate was almost impossible because of the growing number of people who come to the governorate, especially the Northerners. The displaced people accept lowest salaries and dominate job opportunities while most young men in Al-Mahra don't accept such low salaries as living necessities here are very expensive".

He continued by saying: "I didn't believe myself when Awad found a job. The salary was a source of amazement among my friends and neighbors as what is considered a normal thing in Al-Mahra was a fortune for us". 

Most coastal areas in Al-Mahra work in fishing. With the rise in fuel prices, they have two choices, whether to sustain incurring losses at work or to wait until dying from starvation. Along with fishing, many people in this governorate work in agriculture and animal breeding, especially in the areas which are far from the urban ones. 

Abdullah Ali, a farmer from Al-Mahra's citizens, told "South24" that "disasters and storms affected our farms and backfilled some wells. We only received little support from organizations and government bodies". He added: "We would like to move to the solar energy systems but we need support. Our capabilities are very limited while water pumps which rely on fuel are costly".

 

Lawyer Mujahid Al Afrar, the Head of Al-Mahra Youth Organization told "South24" that "the Yemeni government and the local authority neglected the tourism sector in Al-Mahra".