War can bring out the worst in people, but there are often acts of generosity that make one believe again in the basic goodness of humanity. This has been the experience of Ali Hazzazi, 32, who had to flee from his home because of the conflict in his area. But in his time of need, he found that he had a friend who cared for him more than he realized. His friend Hussein Al-Safhi provided him and his family with a place to stay, and a place to keep all his livestock at his farm in Al-Marawenah village. Hazzazi works at a cement factory in the southern province and has a wife, and eight children between the ages of two and 12. When the military ordered him out of the area, he did not know where to go. “When the confrontation began between the Saudi military and the infiltrators I had to leave my home as soon as possible to save our lives,” he said. Dealing with the transport of furniture, clothes and sheep was extremely difficult. “I couldn't transport anything except my sheep and my children,” he said, pointing to his sheep on the farm of his friend. “Facing such a problem, the first thing I thought about was how to transport my children and family. Only afterwards did I think about other important things like furniture and clothes.” Hazzazi said that he took his family first to Abu Hager village, about 35 km from his own village Al-Mazabra. Then, he had to travel to the Al-Marawenah village which is about 70 km from Al-Khubah. This is where his friend Al-Safhi provided a flat for him. “When I asked my dearest friend Hussein why he gave me a flat to stay in, he said he did it because he is my friend. You truly only discover who your real friends are in time of trouble,” said Hazzazi. However, it has not been all smooth sailing for Hazzazi. Close to tears, he said he lost an aunt in the battle between the Saudi forces and the infiltrators. He said the infiltrators had bombed her house during the confrontation. He now also misses his village and his community. “I really miss my home, relatives and neighbors in my village. I spent more than SR250,000 to build my home and I did not want to leave it,” he added. “Tell me, what are you supposed to do, if you face trouble like that. Just put yourself in my shoes,” he said. However, he did feel grateful that he had found safe refuge with his family. “If I have to thank someone, I have to thank Allah first and my dearest friend Hussein next,” he said.
