The forgotten residents of Khatwit Ain

Painful and silent secrets have long been kept under the wraps of these hills and mountains. At first, you might think that you are walking amidst sheep pens but reality says otherwise.

The residents of this village coexist with sheep, their only source of livelihood, so you might confuse their houses with their sheep pens which are both made out of wooden thatched huts, metal grills and other rooms built from tin with plastic roof tiles. They live in fragile houses that do not protect them from the burning midday sun or the freezing winter cold.

The village of Khatwit Ain is located at 150 km north-east of Jazzan city, in Al-Rith district. The village does not reveal any sign of evolution or growth; its splendid nature and charming sites were conserved by the residents despite the advancement witnessed lately in the region of Jazzan. Poverty is visible in the resident’s shelters, food and drink.

These are one the best houses in the village. These houses were built by residents from rocky stones. They are single-layer houses occupied by numerous family members. However, there are also other types of rooms with different designs. One of the town’s residents told Al Arabiya that the village needs housing, hospitals and other facilities.

These children did not enjoy the same life as that of other children in neighboring regions. Their eyes probably reflect questions about the presence of reports and cameramen in their village. Their looks and appearance towards the crew spoke volumes about us being strangers not only in this town but also in the whole neighborhood.