At sunrise Saturday the armed forces will evacuate eight southern border villages including Umm Al-Quroosh in Jizan Region – a village that will be difficult for Aisha Ali Haddadi to leave, as she has lived there with her sheep for more than 95 years. The new evacuation order has come after more intense clashes with armed infiltrators from Yemen along the border. It is a difficult moment for a woman who has spent her life amidst the cornfields from sunrise to sunset and during the planting and harvest seasons, she said. When Aisha learnt that she had to leave and that there was no other choice, she said in the voice of a woman in her nineties: “My home is a better place. It makes me feel safe.” But a soldier placed his hand on her shoulder and said, “There is a tent camp in Ahad Al-Masareha and you'll be safe there.” Aisha's eyes moved from behind worn-out spectacles as if she were having a last look at all that she was leaving behind. Then she cried and said, “In this village my husband died and from this humble village house my son left for a government job. I remained alone except for some neighboring women who used to visit me throughout these decades. She said she would miss the refreshing evening breeze. She prayed to Allah to bring shame on those who have caused her to leave her home, village, cornfields and her wooden bed. She prayed to Allah to grant victory to those who patted her on her shoulder and took her to safety.
