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Residents gather near the site of a bombing in Sanaa, Yemen, in May 2019. Reuters

Yemen is still plunged into chaos, crushed by the bombs of the Saudi army and its Arab coalition. The humanitarian Suad Al-Qadri, visiting Paris, testifies to the difficulties to live in Sanaa.

Paris has since Thursday a monument to the "unknown civil". It was inaugurated as part of the 25th edition, this Saturday, of the "Pyramid of shoes" which rises every year in the capital in support of the victims of antipersonnel mines. An exceptional delegation of Yemeni activists and humanitarians attend this event.

Suad Al-Qadri is in Paris after a long journey. Difficult to leave Yemen subjected to a triple air, land and maritime blockade imposed by Saudi Arabia. The only way out for Handicap International's young aid worker is to take a plane from the United Nations.

shelling

For five years, the capital of Yemen where she lives is controlled by Houthi rebels . But, according to her, the only danger in Sanaa comes from the sky and Saudi bombing.

" Civilians are the victims of most air raids. The bombs are falling near the residential areas or even directly on the houses. These strikes do not spare anyone. We live in fear, we are stressed ... All this instability hurts us a lot ».

The situation makes daily life very complicated , continues the humanitarian. " In Sanaa we live in the dark. Life is difficult and we spend our time trying to find candles or batteries for flashlights to be able to enlighten us. We have difficulty finding water too. Not to mention the lack of food. Without fuel, there is no transport and no means of transport, there is no supply . "

A call

Officially, the Saudis claim to fight the Houthi rebels at the request of the Yemeni authorities. Their war is also waged thanks to the support of Western powers, such as France, which sells arms in Riyadh .

" We want peace, but as a Yemeni people our voice does not carry, no one hears us. I would like the French people and the French authorities to realize that in Yemen people are suffering war. Have pity on us. The French authorities should play a role in peace and support a negotiated solution between the parties to the conflict ".

In four years of war difficult to count the dead in Yemen. According to Handicap International, 90% of the victims of bombing in conflicts are civilians. The country is devastated, says Suad Al-Qadri. " I live in Sanaa, the capital is partially destroyed, but there are other cities in Yemen that have been completely devastated like Saada, Taez and Hodeida . There is nothing left of these cities .