Roqaya Mohammed Noor, 33, a Somali refugee, has been struggling to survive since her husband died of a chronic disease in 2000. Her main concern is for her eight children. "All the time you think of how to provide shelter and food for them," she said.
Roqaya sells sweets from a small box and makes about 300 riyals (US$1.5) a day. "Every time I have to decide whether to buy food or save it for the house rent. My mind cannot think any more," she said.
Roqaya is one of hundreds of Somali refugees who have been living in Mukalla, Hadramaut Governorate, southeastern Yemen, since 1992. She lives in al-Koud, Mukalla's biggest slum.
Mukalla has 7,000 Somali refugees, according to Abdullah Sharif, head of the Somali community there. "They live in very harsh conditions. Most of the Somalis, especially the women here in Mukalla, are beggars. Men have menial jobs like washing cars and assisting local fishermen," Sharif told IRIN.
"They live from hand to mouth. Sometimes they have food and sometimes they don't," said Hassan Mahyuob al-Sharmani, a member of the local council and leader of al-Koud slum.
“They suffer the depths of despair. Some resort to drugs or alcohol. There are also women who resort to prostitution in order to provide bread for their children," he told IRIN, adding that many often ended up in prison.
Al-Sharmani said unsanitary conditions in the slum led to diarrhoeal and other diseases. There was only one health facility with one doctor. He said it was essential to open a hospital in the area.
No money, no education
The government of Yemen recognises Somalis as refugees, which means they can move around freely, get treatment in government hospitals and their children can attend school.
"But without money, Somalis cannot buy medicines or send their children to school," said Sharif, adding that only 30 percent of Somali refugee children in Mukalla were enrolled in state schools.
Slum leader al-Sharmani also highlighted a problem with birth certificates, which are only issued to children who have a father with an ID card: "Last year 50 students were dismissed from school because their parents could not provide birth certificates."
Salma Ali, 50, has three children but is forced to leave them at home: She goes out to beg and her husband washes cars.
"If we have money we can send them to school. But when they are at home alone, there is no one to look after them. When I return I find them crying because of hunger. Their future will certainly be gloomy if they remain out of school," she said.
According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), more than 38,000 Africans, mostly Somalis, arrived in Yemen by boat during the first 10 months of 2008, and 600 people have been reported dead or missing. Last year, 29,500 arrived on Yemeni shores, and 1,400 people died.
maj/ar/cb
Roqaya sells sweets from a small box and makes about 300 riyals (US$1.5) a day. "Every time I have to decide whether to buy food or save it for the house rent. My mind cannot think any more," she said.
Roqaya is one of hundreds of Somali refugees who have been living in Mukalla, Hadramaut Governorate, southeastern Yemen, since 1992. She lives in al-Koud, Mukalla's biggest slum.
Mukalla has 7,000 Somali refugees, according to Abdullah Sharif, head of the Somali community there. "They live in very harsh conditions. Most of the Somalis, especially the women here in Mukalla, are beggars. Men have menial jobs like washing cars and assisting local fishermen," Sharif told IRIN.
"They live from hand to mouth. Sometimes they have food and sometimes they don't," said Hassan Mahyuob al-Sharmani, a member of the local council and leader of al-Koud slum.
“They suffer the depths of despair. Some resort to drugs or alcohol. There are also women who resort to prostitution in order to provide bread for their children," he told IRIN, adding that many often ended up in prison.
Al-Sharmani said unsanitary conditions in the slum led to diarrhoeal and other diseases. There was only one health facility with one doctor. He said it was essential to open a hospital in the area.
No money, no education
The government of Yemen recognises Somalis as refugees, which means they can move around freely, get treatment in government hospitals and their children can attend school.
"But without money, Somalis cannot buy medicines or send their children to school," said Sharif, adding that only 30 percent of Somali refugee children in Mukalla were enrolled in state schools.
Slum leader al-Sharmani also highlighted a problem with birth certificates, which are only issued to children who have a father with an ID card: "Last year 50 students were dismissed from school because their parents could not provide birth certificates."
Salma Ali, 50, has three children but is forced to leave them at home: She goes out to beg and her husband washes cars.
"If we have money we can send them to school. But when they are at home alone, there is no one to look after them. When I return I find them crying because of hunger. Their future will certainly be gloomy if they remain out of school," she said.
According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), more than 38,000 Africans, mostly Somalis, arrived in Yemen by boat during the first 10 months of 2008, and 600 people have been reported dead or missing. Last year, 29,500 arrived on Yemeni shores, and 1,400 people died.
maj/ar/cb
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
Share this article
