Aged people in Yemen left dead on streets

SANA'A, April 18 (Saba)- An aged man woke up from a sleep in the
street, cleaning the dust from his head to start search for a
breakfast. He has no supporter to help him.

Difficult time

Haj Saleh al-AmrY went out along with other child beggars and
vendors in one of the capital's round roads seeking for a food and
water to feed his body. Nowadays, round roads have not become only
for street children but also for many aged poor people seeking for
their livings.

Today, al-Amry is crying about his lost age speaking sadly while his
tears fill eyes "I bite my fingers on regretting my lost age. I hope
the time be returned to change my way of life."

It is not shame that al-Amry feels sad for his past in a time men
are crying. "I was a carpenter and lost my workshop and family
because I indulged in playing," he said. "Life's conditions and hard
times forced me to begging, my two sons left me and I cannot work."

He added "I do not fear anything because I am broken but I hope to
die today before tomorrow to end the humiliation I live."

Death is safer

"Death is safer" was the desire realized to late Ali al-Matari who
had died at 86. He was found dead in a room he had rented earlier.
His neighbors know nothing about him but a man without relatives.
They say he never married and his illiteracy helped increasing his
suffering. He lived unbearable life. He had been living on his
neighbors' rubbish for years.

Like al-Matari, a grandmother "Dahma" lives in a village in Sana'a
governorate. She suffers from senility's diseases and hard livings.
She depends on support from charitable men in the village.

"Dahma is from Jewish origin. She came to the village long years ago
with a brother converted to Islam then called al-Muhtadi (a man who
became true Moslem)," said a villager. "Her suffering began ten
years ago when her brother died. Villagers impose on any one marries
his son to buy clothes to her."

Ungratefulness or unforgotten loss

In one Sana'a's round road, you ca see a man in his 60th amazing
you by his activity despite he suffers diseases some times make him
staying without work for a long time. He sums up his story by one
sentence "I work as a vendor refusing to be supported by any one."

There is an aged woman "Shaefa". Her neighbors say she is 120 years
old. She left alone after husband's death. "We treat her as one of
family member, like my mother. My family members treated her this
way, we take care of her as we can," said her neighbor Suad.

"There are charitable people who allocated her a monthly aid and
provide her some care." Given that this care is not enough said Suad
"there must be houses for elders. My husband, along with a number of
people in the quarter, has uselessly done so."

Unlike Shaefa, Mriam has son and daughter. Even though, she is not
happy in her life. "My daughter lives with her husband who has
wealth and left me with a son living in small place," said the aged
woman painfully. Mariam prays to God to bless her son while praying
to Him to send down His stiffest punishments on her daughter.

"My son is not married, he needs support, not to be away of his
work," said Mariam while remembering coquetry and kindness she has
given to her only daughter, "she ignored every thing, even she does
not visit me."

Absent government and imperfect foreign care

Although these stories do not reflect the real conditions of Yemeni
aged people, the truth is bitterer. What is worse is that Yemen has
no clear data base on this category.

There are four aged care homes in four governorates (Sana'a, Aden,
Taiz and Hudeida). These homes receive only few numbers do not
exceed 200 aged, said state sources.

"Government's role is no more than carrying out surveys and studies
on the situations of the aged people and distributing them," said
Deputy Minister of Social and Labor Affairs, Ali Abdullah. "What is
included in budget is very low on what is in the plans
.Nevertheless, there are future intentions to establish modern homes
to take care of this category."

He affirmed that since Yemen Unity in 1990, the government has
worked in different dimension. Concerning social protection and
safety there are two pivots, the first is about supporting social
care centers and aged care homes and qualifying disabled. The second
one is refereeing the role of taking care of aged to society,
charities, organizations and private sector.

" Some governorates are in need to establishing specialized care
houses with importance of providing potentials and database to know
the real needs of this group," the deputy minister stressed.

According to Yemen's population's demography, the aged is a person
has to enjoy the life while he is above 65 years.

The social affairs official indicates that the aged people represent
four percent of the population and that there are only eight
organizations across the country taking care of aged.

Conducting Sana'a's aged care home, located in behind al- Jomhori
Hospital apparently does not contain more inhabitants, the female
director of the home does not accept any journalist wants to enter
the place. " They cannot talk to you," she gently apologizes.

There is hope

" Despite there are more than 20 theories explaining the psychology
of the aged, most of them agree the successful person in his early
life is successful even while he is aged and vice versa," said
Psychologist Mahfoud al-Edrisi.

Setbacks starting with losing a partner, a child or life hardship
add more sorrow and depression to the aged. But, despite all of
this, the aged still has a role to play as a human being "this role
remain the first and forever life's project," added al-Edrisi who
is master's degree student.

Over Islam viewpoint over homes for aged people, Sheikh Mohammad
al-Hazmi, the sermon deliver in Arrahman Mosque says " in Islam,
there is no thing called a home to the aged."

"The aged is either grandfather or grandmother who has rights of
obedience and care by their grandsons or sons till they die. Any on
takes his grandfather or grandmother to this home is considered
disobedient," the Sheikh explained.

Over aged who have no relatives, al-Hazmi stressed on the state's
role saying:" the state is responsible on including these people in
social institutions." He cited the prophet's hadith "All of you are
responsible and all of you are accountable on taking care of their
subjects."

He believes that submitting aged people to foreign organization to
take care of them is great mistake.

According to state report issued in 2007, the aged people's
category is 3.43 percent of the population. The aged has the right
of getting a salary when he reaches 60 if he is male and 55 for
woman.

"Improving conditions of the aged people needs studies and surveys
to put correct solutions. There is no real study has been made on
the situations of the aged people in Yemen, especially those who
have no relatives," says the report.