Gold Mines in Hajjah Open Graves Swallowing the Souls of the Innocent

In the rugged highlands of Hajjah governorate in northwestern Yemen, dozens of young men embark daily on a death-defying adventure in traditional gold mines. They dream of a handful of the precious metal to lift them from a life of misery, but at any moment, these mines can turn into open graves, swallowing their dreams and their lives.

In a scene that embodies this bitter reality, six people were killed on Monday when a primitive gold mine collapsed in Jabal al-Manjam, in the village of Bani Raiban, Kushar district, Hajjah governorate. The pit they dug became a mass grave, revealing the grim face of unregulated gold mining in these forgotten mountains.

Hajjah Governorate Police stated in an official announcement that the collapsed mine was operated haphazardly. The collapse led to the deaths of Mohammed Ali Hussein Raiban, Farouq Raji Saleh Raiban, Mohammed Hadi Sarhan Raiban, Ahmed Ali Hussein Raiban, Nasrallah Yahya Saleh Raiban, and Ramzi Ali Saleh Raiban. Ali Saifan Mujammal Raiban was critically injured.

The police confirmed that the victims had been detained days earlier for illegal excavation and were released after signing a written pledge not to repeat the offense. However, according to the statement, they secretly returned to work.

The Earth Split Open and Swallowed Them

It was as if the earth split open and swallowed them, says Ahmed Raiban, an eyewitness and local resident, speaking to Al-Mawqea Post. We heard the sound of digging in the morning, and suddenly we heard a loud collapse. We rushed to the site, but the dust was thick, and the screams were muffled. It took several hours to retrieve the bodies of the victims.

He adds with sorrow, This is not the first incident, and it wont be the last unless this recklessness is stopped immediately. People here live on