Suffering Remains a Harsh Reality

“One thing you cannot hide – is when you are crippled inside by the sorrows of real life. Six innocent children to take care of. My shield in life – husband – sadly passed away. My youngest child is severely malnourished. I nearly lost consciousness when I saw my little child fall down the roof. Painfully, I kept screaming, calling out the name of my husband, but I know he couldn’t hear me because he is now dead,” sobbed Wasam’s mother.

Tragically, when you compare the sorrows of real life to the pleasures of the imaginary one, you will never want to live again. In times of hardships, how difficult it is for a woman whose husband is dead to assume greater responsibility for the care of six innocent children. Suffice it to say that the unimaginable suffering of this vulnerable family remains a harsh reality in this day and age.

Samira Rassam lives under the poverty level with her three sons and three daughters in Al-Aqiba sub-district, Fara Al-Odain district, Ibb governorate. Her husband, Nashwan Massad, passed away 3 years ago at the age of 33 years old. Samira’s husband worked very hard in order to build a two-room house for his children before he died. Sadly, the tragedy of Nashwan’s untimely death caused the whole family unbearable grief, especially the wife who almost couldn’t bear the heavy burden towards her little children.

Despite the hardships of life, Wasam’s mother incredibly keeps struggling for survival. She used to be a shepherd, raising some sheep, but after the death of her husband, she gradually started selling them in order to buy the very basic needs for a living. Unfortunately, life seemed to be even harder for Samira when her youngest child, Habib Nashwan, has got a severe acute malnutrition. At that moment, she had a lot of tears in her eyes, praying and believing how difficult it is to go through all hardships of life without a husband.

Samira has strong and enormous faith in God. She sacrificed everything possible and kept fighting for her children to live. Fortunately, there was a health center in the same village supported by Relief and Development Peer Foundation (RDP); therefore, Samira has taken her little child to receive proper medical care. Besides, this vulnerable family has received three food baskets during three months which could alleviate a little of their suffering. Finally, the fact that suffering remains a harsh reality for those vulnerable and most affected people who live in areas that are barely recognized by the majority of people almost hurts.