Buildings in need of repair

Yemen was recovering from war, civil unrest and strife. Unemployment was high. Life was hard and survival would have been the priority. For the average Yemeni the maintenance of old buildings was low on a list of priorities.

Sadly, most of the ancient multistorey buildings in Sana’a showed clear signs of neglect. The outer walls were made from baked mud bricks and soft rock. The ornate decorative window surrounds were made from gypsum. These construction materials are soft, and in the absence of maintenance slowly deteriorate. Erosion from rain, wind and sand was evident everywhere.