In a fish port of Hodeidah Province, western Yemen, several small wooden boats return from their fishing expeditions.
The modest vessels are roughly five meters in length, slighter longer than a sedan. Most of them are beautifully painted in light blue and white, some even decorated with exquisite Arabesque on the prow.
There are small cabins on the ships to store freshly caught fish and ice cubes. But the fishermen, facing the relentless storms and scorching sunshine of the Red Sea, must endure the trip from the deck.
Fishing in Hodeidah has never been an easy venture, but the ongoing conflict and the economic crisis in Yemen have turned it into a mission impossible.
For Al-Wesabi and his fellow fishermen, each fishing trip is fraught with peril. This coastal province faces constant threats of airstrikes and naval mines, as it stands in the confrontational lines of the yearslong conflict between the internationally-recognized Yemeni government and the Houthi rebels.
Fishing has been the lifeblood of the communities in the coastal province for centuries. Though the land may lack fertility, the sea bestows an abundant wealth of fish.
The Yemeni fishery sector has borne the brunt of the conflict, incurring substantial losses estimated at nearly 6.9 billion U.S. dollars, primarily because of the destruction of harbors, landing centers, and fishing boats, as reported by Yemen’s Fisheries Authority.
Yemen’s coastline, once a thriving expanse of more than 2,000 km brimming with fishing grounds, supported thousands of livelihoods and bolstered the national economy.
However, the civil war that broke out in 2014 has plunged the nation into a humanitarian crisis, with over 17 million people reliant on food aid and over 2 million children grappling with acute malnutrition.