Yemeni khat chewers just don't want to quit

A Yemeni Guy Chewing

The Streets of Yemen's capital fill up at the end of a workday, nearly every man crowding the ancient passages of Sana'a with a noticeable bulge in his cheek, as if storing a small ball in his mouth. Yemen ranks among the 10 most "food-insecure" countries in the world, with a recent World Food Program study showing that nearly one-third of the population of 23 million do not have enough nutrition.

Source: WFP 

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Somali Pirates and Khat

Rule #1 for Pirate Hostages: Don’t Get Stoned

Don’t get high, don’t piss anyone off, and try to smile every once in a while: These are just some of the handy tips that can help you make your captivity in the hands of Somali pirates more enjoyable. The waters around the Horn of Africa are getting more dangerous for seafarers.

Hijackings by Somali pirates are on the upswing this year, deadly shootouts with mercs and hijack attempts against warships continue and pirates are holding hostages for as long as 13 months.

EU Navfor, the European Union’s naval forces countering piracy off the coast of Somalia, has responded to this crisis with a handy pamphlet, “Surviving Piracy Off the Coast of Somalia,” containing all the wisdom you need to make the most of your captivity.
One tip from elementary school is particularly helpful: Just say no to drugs. Khat is a leaf with amphetamine-like effects common in Somalia, particularly among pirates, and may be available to you while detained on board your captured ship.  Though borrowing from your captors’ stash may provide you with some “temporary relief” from the drudgery of captivity, it can bad for your health in the form on an acute pirate beatdown. The “negative effects of withdrawal symptoms and increased tension due to cravings,” the pamphlet warns,  can irritate your pirate hosts and result in “unnecessary violence.” In other words, nobody likes a cranky junky, particularly not pirates, so be smart and politely decline if offered drugs.

Khat crankiness applies to pirates, as well, so keep your distance. “If the pirates on board your vessel use this or other drugs,” Navfor warns, “you should be careful to avoid any confrontations whilst they are under the influence of such substances.”
Which leads to another piece of penetrating insight from EU Navfor: It is vitally important that you not annoy the armed men standing all around you.  As the pamphlet says, “piracy is a business.” Your hosts have an incentive to keep you alive and in relatively good health while they seek ransom for you and your ship. But if you try to pull a Steven Seagal circa Under Siege on them, the cost-benefit calculation of keeping you alive, should you fail, will shift against your favor. Navfor recommends you “be cooperative.” “The pirates may stage violence or acts of intimidation,” but that’s all just part of the negotiating process. When asked to “pose for photographs, or muster on deck in clear view,” do so promptly. The photos help the pirates prove you’re still alive and good attendance at mustering time can avert a potentially lethal misunderstanding about your whereabouts.
Also, as with everything in life, a smile goes a long way.  When interacting with your pirate hosts, Navfor’s pamphlet advises you to be “good-humoured” because “you are less likely to be the subject of abuse or violence if you are ‘liked’ by your captors.” You will have to improvise your own charm offensive, however. More specific tips on how to win friends and influence pirates are not provided.
You might want to brush up on your kidnapping survival skills now. It remains unclear whether pirates will furnish you with a copy once you are captured.

Photo: EU Navfor
By Adam Rawnsley

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Major types of Khat

Khat, which is mostly grown around East Africa and Arabian Peninsula have mostly been known around the world by names like Harari, the one from Ethiopia and Miraa, the one from Kenya.  However, if you travel to Ethiopia and ask for a Khat by the name Harari you will never find any. To state it more clearly, it is just a name given to a Khat that comes from Harar, a major Khat producing region in Ethiopia. In this post, I will try to list the different names of Khat used locally In Ethiopia, which will be valuable for those who might travel to Ethiopia and want to give a try.

khat types in Ethiopia
If you travel to Ethiopia you will find that Khat is known generally by the name 'Chat' and pronounced similar to the English word chat (informal conversation).

The major types of Khat in Addis Ababa.
Aweday (አወዳይ) : widely known by the name Harari around the world and grown around the ancient city of Harar, which is located at the eastern part of Ethiopia. Aweday by itself has different varieties:

Ureta: sometimes it is called "Abu-Mismar" (nail type) a name derived from its nail type shape. This is the type of Awedy Khat that is sold in Addis Ababa and exported to different parts of the world.
    Kudaa
    Umerkule
    Fakka
    Chirra

Wendo (ወንዶ) : a type of Khat which comes from the southern part of the country and which is mainly sold in and around the city of Addis Ababa.

Beleche (በለጬ): Just like Wendo, this one also comes from the southern part of the country and sold in and around the city of Addis Ababa.

Gurage (ጉራጌ): a Khat with small leafs and long branches.

In addition to Variations in type and area of growth, Khat varies based on its quality, taste, substance strength and other social factors.

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