VIDEO: Yemenis remain stranded in Egypt as Yemen strife continues

Yemen is a country that is no stranger to conflict. Decades of sporadic civil war have developed a sense of steadfastness in the Yemeni people, especially when it comes to enduring hostilities.

Now, Yemen is suffering the consequences of its latest war. For over three months a military coalition led by Saudi Arabia has pounded its lands with the aim of pushing back the powerful Houthi rebel group, who have seized control of large swathes of the country.

While Yemen has endured war for much of its history, the current conflict has caused its worst humanitarian crisis in years. A recent United Nations Human Rights Council report urged the international community “to prepare for massive displacement and humanitarian crisis as conflict has driven Yemen further into chaos.”

But the crisis has not just impacted those inside the country, with the borders blockaded and external currency transfers banned, thousands of displaced Yemenis have been left stranded overseas with no money or means to return home.

In the Egyptian capital Cairo there are over 5,000 Yemenis registered on temporary visas, the majority of who are there for medical treatment. Many travelled to the country prior to the beginning of the Saudi bombing campaign, which began on 25 March, and are now struggling to survive in an alien country.

Crowds of Yemenis gather outside their embassy in Cairo every day seeking help, however, its doors are closed and no one is there to offer aid. 

There is widespread frustration among the Yemenis in Egypt at the perceived lack of action by its embassy. Rumours of corruption among embassy officials has fuelled anger and desperation, which has resulted in protests outside the consulate building in Cairo.

However, in the midst of the crisis, a group of Yemeni students in Cairo have come together and are trying to help their fellow countrymen, principally with finding housing and food.

“We understand that the government is sometimes a bit slow,” said Mazen al-Hebshi, one of the group of activists. “We just jumped in and took the initiative at the beginning and we thought that this is just for small period of time and then the embassy will come in but it seems there is a problem.”

Such has been the impact of these activists’ work, embassy staff now redirect all calls from Yemenis in need to Samar Amin, one of the volunteers, who are supported in their work by donations from the wider Yemeni community in Cairo.

Every day the activists receive dozens of calls from from Yemenis requesting help from all over the Egyptian capital. Due to the hectic Cairo traffic, visiting numerous families takes hours.

Another volunteer, Jihad, keeps a record of every person they have helped so the embassy cannot take the credit at a later date.

Many of the Yemenis stranded in Cairo have watched the war on television and are daily witnessing their country descend deeper and deeper into complete chaos. Some have been told that their homes have been destroyed in the fighting, meaning that even if they could return, there would be little to return to.

And for those who still desire to make the journey home, the opportunity seems far off, particularly after the international airport in Sanaa was bombed and heavily damaged in the on going military campaign.