Taiz, Yemen – From 6 to 8 September, Taiz hosted the first-ever Memory Museum in Yemen, turning eight years of siege into a living archive of human suffering, resilience, and a pursuit of justice The inauguration, led by Deputy Governor Mohammed Al-Sanwi, brought together officials, civil society representatives, cultural figures, and media professionals in a historic event, marking a milestone in documenting conflict and its human impact.
The museum is part of the SPARK project, organized by SAM Organization for Rights and Liberties in partnership with the Abductees’ Mothers Association, supported by the DT Institute, and coordinated with the General Authority for Antiquities and Museums and the Office of Siege Affairs and Culture in Taiz. It is Yemen’s first exhibition dedicated to capturing the human cost of war, providing a platform for reflection, accountability, and education.
Preserving Collective Memory
The Memory Museum documents the trajectories and sufferings endured during the siege, featuring over 250 paintings, 165 photographs, 20 artistic models, a display screen, and a dedicated memory corner. Each exhibit preserves the stories of victims and records the decade-long humanitarian tragedy, transforming individual and collective pain into tangible memory for the community.
Siege and Humanitarian Crisis
Since March 2015, the siege has left deep humanitarian, economic, and psychological scars on Taiz:
Humanitarian:
- 3 million people trapped under blockade
- 10,000 deaths from lack of medicine
- 32,200 students deprived of education
- 75% of water supply lost
- Thousands injured and 1,860 abductions
Economic:
- 9,000 jobs lost, companies reduced from 100 to 17
- $227 million in financial losses
Psychological:
- Deep trauma among children and women
A First-of-Its-Kind Initiative
For Maher Al-Absi, Director of the Office of Siege Affairs, the museum is “more than documentation—it is a warning to future generations, showing the human cost of war and violations against civilians.”
Moa’th Al-Faqeeh, SPARK project officer, emphasized the museum’s role in transitional justice, describing it as “a gateway into pain and resilience, preserving victims’ memory as part of reparations and civic awareness.”
Asma’a Al-Ra’i, Executive Director of the Abductees’ Mothers Association, added, “The exhibition captures tragedy with eloquence beyond words, ensuring that memory becomes a tool for justice and reconciliation.” Journalist Sam Al-Buhairi called it a “living archive that safeguards Taiz’s history for future generations.”
Art as Witness and Dialogue
Artists highlighted the power of storytelling to translate suffering into civic engagement. Nada Mahmoud painted Cairo Castle as a symbol of resilience and depicted struggles with water, electricity, and blocked roads, showing the lived reality of residents.
Through art, artifacts, and personal testimonies, the Memory Museum transforms trauma into a historic and educational space, strengthening transitional justice mechanisms, promoting civic awareness, and providing a model for peacebuilding and reconciliation in Yemen and the region.
