Yemen People Hopeful of a Ceasefire.

Since the war in Yemen broke out last year, more than 2.4 million Yemenis have been internally displaced by the fighting.

Last Wednesday reports started to circulate of an agreement of a nationwide cessation of hostilities starting next month. Many Yemenis have expressed hope that this would put an end to the year-old conflict that has killed more than 6,000 people – half of them civilians.

Al Jazeera recently spoke to four Yemenis, three of whom are internally displaced, about their stories and the challenges they face in their daily lives. This is one of their stories:

After living for three decades in Yemen’s port city of Aden, Ahmad Salim Abdul Manaa fled the city with his family in late June last year, after battles broke out between the Houthi rebel group and forces loyal to the Yemeni government.

They had lived in Aden’s Khour Maksar neighbourhood, where some of the fiercest fighting raged. “We decided four times to flee Aden,” Abdul Manaa said, “but could not make it because of clashes on the main road to Hadramout [province].”

Now, Abdul Manaa works as a taxi driver in Mukalla, the capital of Hadramout province, while his family lives in the poor, remote village of Hajjar, and rents a dilapidated house for 1,500 riyals ($7) a month.

Abdul Manaa has to work hard every day to pay 2,000 riyals ($9.30) to the company that owns the taxi he drives. “I work for my food and drink,” he said. “I rarely save money for my family. I live and sleep in this taxi. I have a blanket and a pillow in the back. I take them out and sleep whenever I feel tired at night.”

Meanwhile, Abdul Manaa’s family is living in abject poverty, subsisting on donations from villagers in Hajjar. To make matters worse, a rare cyclone hit Yemen last year, and their  house in Hajjar was damaged by the heavy rains.

However, he told his family to stay put. “They cannot go elsewhere, as there were not many empty houses in the village. I asked them to stay in the house, as God – who saved them from death in Aden – would [also] save them there.”

“I dream of building a house for my children,” said Abdul Manaa. “I want stability, stability and stability.”

• Pray for Yemen, for the thousands of people displaced by the fighting and struggling to survive. Pray for a return of hope to this nation, and for aid and supplies of food, water and medicine to reach those in most need.
• Pray for the cease fire agreement to be brought into reality next month, and for all involved in the conflict to actively seek peace and to rebuild  this nation.
• Pray for Christians in Yemen to reach out to their neighbours with love and compassion and to share the love and hope they ave through Christ Jesus.
• Pray for a move of the Holy Spirit across yeomen, for healing, and form any to come to know true life in Christ.

John 10 vs 10: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

Source: http://www.aljazeera.com/news