For many young Yemeni women, the possibilities of leaving the country are tightly constrained. Unlike men, who in large numbers have left over the past 11 years in search of work and stability abroad, often heading to Gulf countries, women’s mobility is restricted by strict social norms and the requirement of a male guardian, or mahram, to travel.
For some, marriage to a wealthy foreign man has emerged as an alternative route out of the country and towards a more secure future. Yet, as many discover, the reality does not always match the dream.
Mona*, 29, was previously married to a Yemeni man, a shopkeeper in Taiz governorate. They were together for five years, a period she describes as a "journey of suffering".
"During those five whole years, I spent every single day worrying about how to get food, water, and basic services," she told Middle East Eye. "It was five years of pure hardship with my ex-husband."
After the birth of their child, their struggles deepened, to the point where even buying milk became nearly impossible.
