Reporting on war can be a tough assignment for any reporter, but especially so for a relative rookie. This is what I found out when I traveled to Jizan to report on the conflict between the Saudi armed forces and the infiltrators from across the border. It was my first assignment in a conflict zone. “You will gain a lot of experience, since it is the first confrontation you are covering as a reporter”, I was told by Mohammed Al-Hassan, a presenter at Al-Arabiya news channel. My father also offered encouragement, saying that the experience would be invaluable and motivate me to do better. So it was with some fear and anxiety that I set off on my journey. I was so preoccupied with thoughts of how I was going to cover the event, how I would uncover the truth and write many stories on what was going on that I was unprepared for what would turn out to be a long wait. When I arrived at Jeddah's King Abdulaziz Airport, I discovered that my 4 P.M. flight to Jizan had been delayed until 12 A.M. because of the situation at the border. Suitably chastened, I had to wait at the airport for what seemed like a very long time. Then I thought: I had not started reporting yet and the conflict was already affecting me. Eventually I boarded the flight and arrived in Jizan without incident. After settling in and making preparations for my work, I traveled to the Ahad Al-Masareha tent camp, where many Saudis from the border villages were staying after they had been evacuated from their houses. I was saddened by the sights at the camp. Young children were playing around, dressed in old clothes. Some people had lost all their important documents including IDs and education certificates. Old women and men seemed to be suffering the most because they could not adjust to the new living conditions. However, this situation changed completely afterwards as the authorities started to provide financial aid, health care and mobile schools. One of strangest sights I encountered was a taxi driver who refused to live in a tent because he didn't like the environment inside the camp. As a result, he lived in his car. He was basically eating and sleeping in the vehicle. When I tried to take a picture of him, he threatened to break my camera. Some of the unsung heroes of the conflict were the volunteers. No one can dismiss the hard work of members of the Saudi Civil Defense, World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY), and officials from the Ahad Al-Masareha province, in terms of organizing the distribution of water, meals and blankets. They also managed to set up activities to entertain people living at the camp. Volunteers from Jizan University, high schools and technical colleges also played a vital role in making the camp bearable. Khaled Al-Safhi, a volunteer from Jizan University, said that he felt it was his duty to help out. “If I don't help those people, I will never be happy with my life. It is time to apply the Islamic principles of helping Muslims. We must prove that we as Saudis can stand together in good and bad times,” he said. I met many people in other areas that were doing similar good work. On my way to the restricted zone in Al-Khubah province I saw tribal chiefs and citizens distribute water and food to both citizens and soldiers. They were also holding Saudi flags around their shoulders to help motivate the soldiers patrolling the area. Restaurants in Ahad Al-Masareha, Sametah and Al-Tiwal provided free meals for Saudi soldiers, evacuees and volunteers. Citizens in Jizan lined the streets and waved and ululated when Saudi soldiers passed through their villages. “When the Saudi military passed my village, moving towards Al-Khubah, my grandmother wore her abaya and went to the edge of the road and started to ululate, to welcome the Saudi military. It is a tradition in Jizan to welcome heroes in this manner,” said Ahmed Yosef, a Saudi citizen. For the first time in my life, I saw Apache and F-16 fighter jets flying in the sky. They made a great deal of noise when they passed overhead, heading towards targets close to the border with Yemen. When the Saudi military started their bombing, the windows and doors of my apartment vibrated. Villagers near the border suffered a great deal because many lost their only source of income – their livestock. Many had wanted to sell their animals during the Haj season, but did not have any transport. Many sheep died or became sick because of a lack of food and water. When villagers did manage to sell their livestock, they could only get very low prices. “I lost more than 25 sheep during the first two days of the confrontation because I couldn't transport them to the market. I sold the rest at the low price of SR300 each. I lost a total of SR28,000,” said Ali Hazazy, the Saudi who left his home in Al-Muzabarat village. To conclude, this was one of the most eye-opening trips and assignments I have ever undertaken. It taught me patience and how to find information even when no one would talk to me. I also learnt how to deal with people with different personalities. I think reporting is one the hardest jobs around because you not only require education, you need a lot of other skills as well. I am learning these skills now.
