The rugged road of al-Shuaib Village in al-A’rouq-Taiz has been a cause for the hardship in the daily life of the local area residents. The cost of transportation is so high and cars can’t travel this rugged road, with the exception of very old 4x4 models. Transporting the sick on this road is a high risk, which leads to complications and increased pain.

A valuable Gift

The intervention by the Public Works Project to pave the road is seen as a valuable gift by Abdullah al-Ariqi. It means the sick can be swiftly taken to hospitals. Expecting mothers can also be taken to hospitals for delivery. Previously they preferred to bear the severe pain rather than travel the rugged road which causes violent shakes and vibration. Moreover, the paving of the road reduced transport cost for food supplies- a saving of at least 50% in transport cost has been realized, reduced from YER 1000 to YER500.

Meals for the Worker in the Road

The local residents are so happy to see the road being paved, their happiness is indescribable. The residents expressed their happiness by ensuring that workers are treated to regular breakfast and lunch meals as they worked to pave the road. They offered the meals continuously to workers from the day construction work began and continued until the work on the road was completed.

Aziz Mohammed, a local resident, said the road pavement subproject enhanced community cooperation and prompted the exchange of social visits between relatives by making travel more accessible. Now, people don’t have to wait for major religious occasions like Eid to visit their relatives. The road had been a major social barrier, he said, but now, the situation has completely changed. Taxis, motorcycles and other vehicles can now travel the road easily in contrast with the situation before the pavement, which made travel on this road an impossible feat.