Many of the districts of Hajjah Governorate are characterized by their rugged and complicated mountainous nature, but this feature is a problem in itself, suffered by the people of those areas, as traffic and transportation is more difficult than in flat environments given the roughness and deterioration of the condition of the roads.
The “Alakma” road is one of the important and strategic roads in Hajjah. This road, which is a mixture of plain and mountainous route, connects many of the governorate’s districts. For example, this road directly connects the Tahami Aslam District and the Al-Muftah Mountainous District in Hajjah, so that it gains great significance; about 170-200 trucks and vehicles pass through it daily.
Additionally, this strategic road suffers from severe neglect and lack of maintenance, which led to being devastated and destroyed due to rains like other roads in Hajjah Governorate. In addition, the road endures frequent damage as a result of landslides and falling rocks as it is in a rugged mountainous area which make it often completely impassable.
Mohammad Aishan, a resident of Al-Muftah District, explains to Khuyut that despite the bad condition of this road, it is very important for the residents and people of the area. Because without it, they will be forced to travel via other distant roads, such as the road to the Mahabisha district, and thus the distance becomes very long, exhausting, and financially expensive.
The residents of this area put emphasis on the significance of this road, which connects many districts and areas in the northwestern governorates of Yemen including Hajjah and Hodeidah, such as the districts of: “Abs”, “Haradh”, “Midi”, “Hairan”, “Muharraq” and “Aslam”, in addition to the areas of “Al-Muftah”, “Kahlan Al-Sharaf”, “Al-Maghriba” and “Al-Jumaimah”.
Residents of other areas, such as Al-Jumaimah (east of Hajjah), complain from the problem of rough roads, as they endure the difficulty of transportation due to the poor quality of the road (Bein Al-Dhab), which connects isolated areas with a rugged mountainous nature, and is the only road that residents have no choice but to travel through to reach other areas within the city of Hajjah or to other neighboring governorates outside it, or often using donkeys for transportation.
In this regard, Amer Al-Sharafi, a road engineer, points out that paving this road with asphalt is extremely needed, given that it may connect three governorates. Hodeidah, Sanaa, as well as Hajjah, through the passage of travelers from Hodeidah governorate through the Abs district to Ammran Governorate (north) and then to Sanaa.
Thus, according to his statement, this strategic road will become a vital route in view of the significant impact it will have on the transportation improvement in Hajjah Governorate, its mountainous regions are characterized by wide separation and dispersion, in addition to the rugged roads and scarcity of public services, as well as reviving trade, developing these local areas, and alleviating the suffering of citizens in transportation. In addition to its strategic importance in linking three governorates together, reviving trade, and developing these local areas, it will alleviate the suffering of citizens in transport.
Patients are the most affected
The demands of the people of these areas were of no avail, says citizen Aishan, as the people and residents of these areas repeatedly called on the official authorities to pay attention not only to this vital and strategic road, but also to all other neglected roads in Hajjah, because of their profound impact in alleviating the suffering of citizens and facilitating their movement.
In the same context, citizens suffer from the “Aqabat Al-Shawariyah” road in the area of the Al-Jabal Al-Sharqi - which connects several districts - located south of Hajjah Governorate. Local travelers find it very difficult to travel through it to reach the city of Hajjah or to Sana’a and other governorates due to its ruggedness, dilapidation, and lack of care.
Moreover, Mohammad Abdel Nasser, a resident of the eastern mountain district in Hajjah, confirmed to Khuyut that this road greatly exacerbated their suffering: “We spend a long time until we reach our destination due to the ruggedness of the road we take, as we are forced to use very difficult alternative roads which requires extra effort, time and high costs." He said.
Abdel Nasser pointed out that the real suffering lies in transporting patients to the city of Hajjah or to Sanaa due to the emergency health situation of some patients, which requires them to be transported to the capital, Sana'a, while - as another citizen; Ali Ahmed – told Khuyut that “There are some patients who die on the road because of its unevenness and long distance before reaching their destination to obtain medical care.”
Isolated areas
Residents of other areas, such as Al-Jumaimah (east of Hajjah), are complaining from the problem of rough roads, as they endure the difficulty of transportation due to the poor quality of the road (Bein Al-Dhab), which connects isolated areas with a rugged mountainous nature, and is the only road that residents have no choice but to travel through to reach other areas within the city of Hajjah or to other neighboring governorates outside it, or often using donkeys for transportation.
Jamil Al-Majash, a resident of Al-Jumaimah, told Khuyut that: “We live in an area that is almost isolated from other neighboring areas because it is located on top of a high and lofty mountain. People find great difficulty in moving and traveling through it and the failure of cars to use the available roads to reach this area.” As a result, residents resort to using donkeys to transport their goods and essential humanitarian and commodity needs.” He confirmed.
Al-Majash added that: “What hurts us most in this issue is the difficulty of aiding and transporting patients, even to the nearest available medical centers, to the point that we lose hope that patients will reach hospitals before they die, especially in view of the lack and weakness of health services in the surrounding areas. Some cases lose their lives in the middle of the road before arriving at the hospital". Al-Majsh concluded his statement by calling on the official bodies and the local authority in the governorate to rehabilitate and maintain this road to alleviate the suffering of citizens in this area because it represents an important pathway for the continuation of life and facilitates people’s means of livelihood.
The residents of the "Kaidna" district also complain about the rough road to Al-Hanja, which connects many villages in the district, while the residents of the "Washha" district complain about the problem of the roads and the difficulty of transportation. Further, they express their great dissatisfaction with the lack of attention of the relevant authorities to the road maintenance which connect the various "Washha" villages as well as the areas of the other directorates with the city of Hajjah and Al-Haija district.
Abu Yassin Al-Dawli, a resident of the “Washha” area, told “Khuyut”: “This road in particular needs a lot of maintenance and attention, given the neglect and great deterioration it is exposed to. Besides, it remains blocked during the rainy season for days and citizens cannot drive through it to their destinations in order to meet their needs so that they are forced to use donkeys for transportation instead.”
Rugged and arduous roads remain one of the most prominent challenges facing the residents of Hajjah Governorate. This greatly exacerbated the suffering of the population, which requires the concerned authorities and the local authority to focus on supporting the improvement and maintenance of roads, as they are among the most important public services, because of their vibrant impact that is reflected on the lives of citizens, and contributes to the development of the governorate’s remote directorates.
