Radio Ergo’s local correspondent in the southern Yemen refugee camps of Al-Kharaz, Mohamed Mohomed Muse (aka Coronto) southern Yemen, interviewed a number of Somali refugees in the camp on their reaction to the five-day humanitarian ceasefire in Yemen.
The question asked was would they try to seize the short window of opportunity to escape from Yemen?
Most of the refugees were confused and frustrated, if not angry, and felt they were left with no options but to stay put, despite the fact that the camps had neither food stocks nor basic services, and the area was unsafe.
The following is a transcript of the vox pop interviews:
Dakane Hassan Hared: “I see the five days as insufficient – we can do nothing within that short period. Our people are scattered all over Yemen, so it is not possible to bring them together in five days, it beats logic! The period will only serve the warring factions to regroup and re-arm themselves, but for us the five days is like five hours.”
Sharifo Salah Alasow: “We were abandoned by our custodian UNHCR. They have not released us officially neither do they take care of us now. We are forced to stay here by circumstances even though we are just few kilometres from the Gulf of Aden where we could get sea transport, but we have amongst us disabled people, elderly people and children, who cannot make such a long trip. Our problem is complicated by lack of finances to enable us to make any kind of journey, so we appeal to the international community to come to our rescue…we have no food, water or even healthcare. Also, we cannot look for our missing people and get them together in five days.”
Habibo Dahir. “I have lived in Yemen for more than 20 years now. The ceasefire will add no value to our lives but will only serve their [warring parties] interests. Forget about five days; even five months are not enough to solve our predicaments.”
Mohamed Muse Yussuf: “I see the five days as a resting time for them so that they can re-energize, it has nothing to do with refugees or humanitarian assistance. You can only evacuate people in five days using air transport, which we cannot get for now. Our problem is complicated by our country Somalia’s support for the coalition that is carrying out air raids on Yemen, that is absolutely not good for us, the refugees from Somalia. We are being pin pointed and killed because of our skin colour, any person who looks like a Somali will even be killed by the Houthis.”
Mohamed Jibril Gurey: “I see the five day ceasefire as not enough. We are being taken for a ride like kids – although there is a possibility of extension by 10 more days, I think even 20 days are not enough for us!”.
