Members of the tiny Jewish community in Sanaa, Yemen’s capital, say they have not received their monthly food rations or any government financial assistance for the past three months.
Rabbi Yahya Yusuf, leader of the 65-member community, told IRIN the Jews had been “suffering terribly” of late; many had been finding it very difficult to even feed their children.
“We have sold everything we possess to buy food for our families. We even sold our women’s gold rings. We have run out of money,” he said.
Yusuf said that two weeks ago they had staged a protest outside government headquarters to demand action.
“Prime Minister Ali Mujawwar has ordered payment of our monthly allowances and so has the minister of finance. But so far we have not received anything,” Yusuf said.
The community has been living in the Sanaa suburb of Tourist City.
The assistance they had been getting was 58,000 riyals (US$290), as well as 40kg of sugar, 50kg of wheat, and 40kg of rice per family, according to Yusuf. Most families had 12-18 members.
Yusuf said the cut in aid could be used as a pretext to remove them from the city.
“When we first lived here [in 2007], we got good food rations plus the financial assistance. But gradually the assistance has been reduced,” he said.
“We appeal to aid organisations and benevolent contributors to assist us,” said Yusuf.
Habbob Salem, 27, is a member of the community in Sanaa. He said he and his 18 family members lived in a small apartment with only three rooms.
“We have never gone through this hardship. We have no source of income to rely on and now we have run out of money. This is really very harsh for us,” he told IRIN.
The community was moved to Sanaa in 2007 after a number of Shia rebels in Saada Governorate, northern Yemen, threatened to kill them if they did not leave the area within 10 days.
Yusuf said their property in Saada had been seized by the rebels, though the rebels have denied this. “We have not received any compensation.”
(Source: IRIN)
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10 Responses
Let’s help these people–PRONTO!
Let us not repeat the sins of America’s Jews during World War II, when Stephen Wise and his Reform Collegues sat on their hands, while Hitler disposessed, starved, and murdered the Jews of Europe.
We should be more than reporters and readers. Yeshivworld, can you investigate further to determine how we can help them? Where to send financial assistance?
Thank you.
yes- please post where and to whom we can send donations for this community. Thanks
Let’s get some Matzos to these people. More than that, let’s get them out of there. YWN – find us a way.
Can YWN or someone contact Agudas Yisroel?
Are they doing something?
Where’s Agudas Yisroel when we need them?
#5 – the Agudah? It’s Satmar that’s taking care of these people as much as they can.
I have spoken to Agudath. The situation is serious and there is a mitzvah to do. Adudath contacted the Yemenite Jewish Federation of America who has access to get money to these people quickly and directly. If we do not act before this Shabbos, they may not have enough money to buy provisions for Pesach. Checks can be mailed to 7 Herrick Drive Lawrence, NY 11559. If you have any questions please use this forum to ask and I’ll try to reply. Imagine the mitzvah we can do to actually help Jews 1/2 way across the world have a Kosher Pesach. Let’s do it!
Who should the check be made out to? Can we set up a paypal donation site?
OK, update with good news. I spoke to those who are managing this on a National level. They are using the proper channels (wiring money to someone they have on the ground in Yemen) to distribute $100 to each individual to buy food and provisions for Pesach. Since this situation was only revealed to the rest of the world on Sunday and money is being wired on Wednesday, I’d say that is pretty good. Hopefully all the Jews of Yemen will now have a Kosher Pesach.
u66544,
Can you give us a name and telephone number of the address in Lawrence, or those who are taking care of this? I am sure they will need money for after Pesach too, and I would prefer to speak with someone. Thank you so much.