Il conflitto nello Yemen trasforma la vita della minoranza muhamasciana, da tempo emarginata

Houthis claimed responsibility for targeting Saudi Arabia’s east-west oil transportation system, according to reports from local media outlets. The attack, which occurred during heightened tensions in the region, reportedly disrupted critical infrastructure and raised concerns about regional stability. The Houthis, a group based in Yemen, have previously carried out similar strikes against Saudi oil facilities, often citing retaliation for Saudi-led military actions in the country. The incident unfolded amid ongoing conflict between the Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia, which has been a central feature of the war in Yemen since 2015. The attack on the oil transport network came days after a series of missile launches from Yemen, which were intercepted by Saudi air defenses. While the exact location and scale of the damage remain unclear, officials in Riyadh confirmed disruptions to key supply routes, prompting emergency measures to restore functionality. The attack highlights the broader context of the war, which has drawn in multiple international actors and resulted in widespread humanitarian crises. The conflict has left millions of Yemenis displaced, with severe shortages of food, clean water, and medical care. The Muhamasheen, an ethnic and social minority in Yemen, have long faced systemic discrimination and economic hardship, exacerbating the challenges of daily survival. One such individual is Ridhwan Raweh, a 28-year-old member of the Muhamasheen community. For over a decade, Raweh worked as a shoe polisher in the markets of Yemen, relying on the income to support his family. Despite the modest earnings, he managed to marry and raise three children. However, the living conditions remained dire, his family lived under a flimsy plastic sheet, lacking access to basic utilities and shelter. The Muhamasheen, historically marginalized, have traditionally been confined to low-paying, informal labor, such as street cleaning and repair work. As the conflict escalated, many members of the Muhamasheen community, including Raweh, found themselves drawn into the fray. Young men from the group began to seek opportunities in the armed forces, particularly along the Saudi-Yemeni border, where combatants could earn higher wages in foreign currency. Raweh noted that many of his neighbors and business contacts abandoned their livelihoods to join the fight, often returning with improved living standards and financial security. In early 2023, Raweh and 12 others from his community traveled from Taiz to the Marib governorate, eventually reaching the Saudi border. They joined a unit with the hope of securing stable income and improving their quality of life. Though none of them had prior combat training, they were driven by the prospect of financial gain and a better future. Raweh spent two years on the frontline before returning home, this time with tangible results. Upon his return, Raweh secured housing in a nearby area and used his savings to purchase land, build a two-story house, and acquire two minibuses. His current monthly income stands at approximately 2,500 Saudi Riyals ($665), allowing him to maintain a more stable lifestyle. He now rents one of the vehicles and keeps the other for personal use. Raweh expressed pride in his achievements, noting that the relative peace following the UN-brokered truce in 2022 created safer conditions for such endeavors. Despite these improvements, Raweh acknowledges the risks he took to secure his family’s future. He does not intend to pass down his experiences to his children, emphasizing that his path was necessitated by necessity rather than choice. As the situation in Yemen continues to evolve, stories like Raweh’s underscore the complex interplay of conflict, survival, and aspiration in one of the world’s most volatile regions.