Marieke Wierda

@BashaReport @Wesamqaid @almasdaronline Unbelievable. What a great loss

This is a hard one to write … The international development community in Yemen is shaken today by the loss of Wesam Qaid @Wesamqaid. @almasdaronline and dozens of outlets reports that Wesam was taken near his home by individuals in a blue vehicle, and his body was later found. This marks the second high-level assassination in Aden, raising concerns about deliberate efforts to undermine the city’s security and stability. Wesam was the founder of Small Micro Enterprise Promotion Service @SMEPSYEMEN, which grew into a leading organization supporting tens of thousands of small and medium businesses across the country. In 2019, he became Deputy Managing Director, and soon after Acting Managing Director, of the Yemen Social Fund for Development @SFDYemen. In that role, he helped guide funding and programs in partnership with @WorldBankGroup, @UNDPYemen, @EUinYemen, @USAID, and others with a focus on stronger, community-based development. Wesam earned a master’s degree in Conflict, Security and Development from the University of Birmingham. Rest in peace, my friend. You were a good man. You helped so many people and changed many lives. Many will grieve you today. You left a mark that will not fade. إنا لله وإنا إليه راجعون 🙏

@DinaDena00 @Ndawsari Beautiful! Hope you are well Dina!

Personal reflection: when I first visited old Sanaa in 2003, I had an unexplained deep feeling that I was there in a past life. I don’t necessarily believe in reincarnation but I had that strange feeling that I can’t deny experiencing it.