Despite the conflict in this region, Yemeni and Saudi tribes living in the area continue to help each other with food and farming. This is what was found during a recent visit to the Al-Khoory tribe at Al-Khadra village in Ahad Al-Masareha province. Tribal chief Mohammed Khoory was a hospitable host and greeted his visitors with water, honey, and Arabic coffee. Ali Sogrey, famous for raising livestock in the area, said he considers himself a Saudi because he was born in Saudi Arabia. “I married here and have been living in this village since 1972,” he said. Sogrey has five children who are all trained to do farm work. The tribe has an official temporary permit to live in the Kingdom. “The Saudi government allowed us to live here because our grandmother used to live and work in Jizan,” said Sogrey. He said he has many friends from various Saudi tribes in the area. He even named his son Hussein, in honor of a Saudi friend who lives in Al-Marawenah village. The youth of the Khoory tribe are considered hard workers. Many could be seen working the land with various agricultural implements. Another tribe member, Ahmed Ali Khoory, said that he has often worked alongside Saudis on various farms in the region. “Saudis have been very kind and generous to us. When I worked with a Saudi in Al-Ghowediah village, he gave me food and water,” he said. “Although seeds are very expensive during the rainy season in Jizan, Saudis gave it to me free of charge. It is true that these Saudi tribes are very generous,” he added. Each family of the Khoory tribe lives in a small house built with dry wood. Each house consists of a guest room and separate rooms for men and women. Attached to the house is a small area for the family's sheep and cows. The tribe has dishes similar to those of Saudi communities. They eat lamb and vegetables like tomatoes, okra and horseradish. They are also fond of dairy products and sweets like Zainab fingers made of flour, sugar and butter. The women of the tribe work as housewives. They care for the children, prepare meals and keep bees. Early every morning they prepare Arabic coffee for their husband and children. Later they milk their goats to make various dairy products like butter and cream. The girls of the village are responsible for taking the donkeys to fetch water from the nearest wells. Many of them have not been to school because they do not have Saudi citizenship. According to their tradition, a girl must be married when she reaches 13. She can only get married to one of her relatives. “As part of our tradition, our daughters must marry one of our tribe. If one of our tribe members marries his daughter to a man from another tribe – whether Saudi or Yemeni – his relatives will not respect him anymore,” said Sogrey. The children also have duties. They have to help to take butter and honey to the nearest markets.
