In my 11 years of being with the ICRC, the most exciting moment dawned as I was offered a chance to undertake a short mission to Yemen. Going to a war engulfed country comes with its own challenges and risks but for the aid worker in me, this was an opportunity to get an on-ground experience about how it feels to work in a conflict zone. But making a decision to step out of my comfort zone and board a plane to Yemen was easier said than done. I still remember the stern expression on my father’s face in total rejection of me going to a war torn place. But I had made up my mind and I wanted to do it.

I arrived in Djibouti on 29th April, 2015. While disembarking the commercial plane, my eyes caught the sight of the ICRC plane that would take me to Sana’a in Yemen. Due to the extremely volatile security situation, we had to await a window of opportunity to fly into Yemen’s capital. It was therefore only a few days later that I along with a group of 13 staff members could actually get into the country. It was very encouraging to see how committed and dedicated people are to work for a humanitarian cause despite knowing the difficulties and the risks involved. The first glimpse of the Sana’a Airport shall stay etched in my memory for a very long time. A deserted airport, a damaged runway and a couple of burned down planes with a handful of our colleagues was all we could see.

Even while travelling from the airport to the office, empty streets and closed markets greeted us. After spending the first few hours acquainting myself with my new colleagues at the office, I left for my assigned residence and settled down in a room which was supposed to be my home for the next three weeks. Just as I was settling down, a huge explosion rattled the neighborhood and knocked me down. By evening, the explosions grew louder and more intense. Being a light sleeper, you can imagine how I felt hearing heavy gunfire and explosions in the background. It kept me awake for the whole night. Lying awake on my bed for hours, all I could think of was, did I go too far this time?

Humanitarian work in a war zone is stressful and challenging. Living conditions can be really difficult at times. I was lucky to live in an apartment with a generator and regular, albeit limited, fuel supply. We did, unlike a large number of Sana’s population have power- at least for a handful of hours every day, otherwise the electrical supply was almost non-existent. A big challenge was strict security rules which massively restricted our movement. Besides official and work related movements, we were only allowed to move from our residence to the office and back.

The most personally striking experience of my stay in Yemen was the level of acceptance and respect that the ICRC as an organization and the Red Cross emblem had among all the Yemeni people, the authorities and the key societal figures. There were frequent explosions and clashes but for all staff members working in this difficult situation, the positive perception of the Red Cross emblem gave us nevertheless a sense of security.

Although the needs in Yemen are immense, we are still able to bring much needed assistance to people affected. The emotional satisfaction that i was part of this humanitarian effort overshadowed the risks of working in a war zone.

The rhythm of the work kept me mentally occupied that after a few days, I became more accustomed to the situation around.

Before I could realize, my three weeks had been over.

Bearing in mind the instability in the country and the potential closures of roads and airports at any time, I was worried that I would be able to return to India on time and that I might   miss my sister’s wedding. I was however fortunate enough that I could complete my mission and board the flight back home on time. Yet for many Yemenis stuck inside or outside Yemen, leaving the country or entering it remains far more complex than it was in my case.

This mission for me was a very good learning and challenging experience. Irrespective of all the risks involved and having left behind my family in my home country, I realized it was an assignment that was worth doing. Sometimes you have to go that far to feel the satisfaction of having touched lives.

Arshid Amin Khan, Communication Officer for ICRC in India, who returned from a one month mission in Yemen.