The Saadah Saga

Two young doctors traveled in 1972 with their first child to Yemen, an unknown country that had recently emerged from a bloody civil war. Together with a team of volunteers they established a medical work in the government hospital of Saadah. There they also developed warm friendships with local people, who opened their houses and hearts for these foreigners. The first Gulf War led to catastrophic changes in Yemen. Poverty, inequality, corruption and political unrest increasingly plagued society. Besides, extremists found a refuge in Yemen. In 2009 the team of volunteers had to leave Saadah, after the fateful kidnapping of nine of its members. Beside a personal story, this book also paints a picture of an era in Yemen’s history, spanning almost 40 years.