Icon: enlarge
Soldiers on the outskirts of Habban:
People fight for normality between the fronts
Photo: Sam Tarling / Sam Tarling / Sana'a Center / Publication
Hundreds died early in the morning.
As soon as the sun rose over the table mountains, the bees staggered to the ground, the old man remembers with bitterness in his voice.
Yemeni government forces put roadblocks in place after an al-Qaida attack.
“We were stuck.
We have to drive at night and arrive before it gets light.
So that our peoples can swarm out with the first light!
Otherwise there will be dead, many dead!
Being locked in during the day is something the bees can't take! "
Approving murmurs all around.
In wrapped skirts, some with traditional curved daggers, the men stand and crouch between countless canisters, bottles, tin cans full of honey.
As every year in November, beekeepers from the most remote valleys of southern Yemen come together in the small provincial capital Atak to sell their precious annual harvest.
The colors vary from light gold to deep brown.
Some varieties have a mild taste, others burn as hot in the throat as if they were made from chilli.
Everywhere there is tasting, bargaining, and the consistency and color being examined.
Some of the world's most expensive honeys are traded here.
Intermediaries for export to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Europe pay the equivalent of up to 1,300 euros for a ten-liter canister of the best Sidr honey, obtained from the tiny flowers of the Syrian Christ thorn.
Read more with Spiegel Plus
More perspectives, more understanding.
Your advantages with SPIEGEL +
Icon: Check
SPIEGEL as a magazine
as an app, e-paper and on the e-reader
Icon: Check
All articles on SPIEGEL.de
Exclusive texts for SPIEGEL + readers
Icon: Check
Try one month for free
Cancel anytime online
A price
only € 19.99 per month
One month for € 0.00
Try now for 0.00 € Buy nowArrow to the right
Already have a digital subscription? Register here
Restore iTunes subscription
SPIEGEL + is processed via your iTunes account and paid for with a purchase confirmation.
24 hours before it expires, the subscription is automatically renewed by one month at the current price of € 19.99.
You can cancel the subscription at any time in the settings of your iTunes account.
In order to use SPIEGEL + outside of this app, you must link the subscription to a SPIEGEL ID account immediately after purchase.
With the purchase you accept our general terms and conditions and privacy policy.
