After the ‘martyr’s’ funeral: The families left behind by Yemen’s war
Rising fatalities in Yemen’s conflict deepen the burden on families of fighters, both emotionally and financially.
Sanaa, Yemen – Pickups carrying the bodies of Houthi fighters occasionally travel through the streets of Sanaa. Alongside them in the back, gunmen accompany the fallen fighters on their final journey to the cemetery.
A song known as “Our martyrs are our greats” echoes loudly from the moving vehicles, drawing the attention of passersby. At the cemetery, mourners solemnly pay their respects to the fallen fighters and show solidarity with their families.
Earlier this month, the Yemeni government said its forces killed or wounded 1,540 Houthis in 24 hours. Last week, the government said 16,100 Houthi operatives and commanders had been killed or wounded since October 5.
“My son was killed four years ago on the Saudi-Yemen border when he was fighting for the Sanaa-based government. Since then, I have received food baskets at different times. Sometimes, I receive them twice a year or thrice a year, or four times a year,” he said.