SANAA, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- In Yemeni capital Sanaa, a city full of worried faces, residents under sporadic airstrikes and pervasive hunger are wading through their impoverished mundanity.

However, from Altaf Adimi's small balcony, a rare air of calmness emanates. In the balcony that overlooks the crowded city, there are a dozen of beautiful fountains, different in shapes and decorated with shiny shells, miniature mountain-like rocks, or green moss.

"I think even in difficult times, people still yearn for beautiful things," the 55-year-old woman said proudly among her works.

The fountains have become an important source of her family's income since she lost her job as an inspector in the education ministry when the civil war broke up.

While many Yemenis think it is not worthy to spend money on the so-called impractical things, such as arts, music, or Adimi's fountains, the mother of three said she believes her works can provide solace and a sense of normality for her compatriots.

"Making fountains has been my hobby since childhood. They have always given me a pleasant mood," said Adimi, adding that she knew many people agreed with her.

Adimi explained that those who bought the fountains from her also thought it was nice to have something beautiful and comforting in their courtyards, even as the whole country is mired deep in woes.

"The fountains remind their owners of the good old times and give them hope for the future. Bread is important, especially for Yemenis. But we, as human beings, also desire aesthetic satisfaction, " said the woman who lost her husband during the war.

The United Nations has warned repeatedly that the biggest humanitarian crisis in the world is unfolding in the Arab country as more than 20 million of Yemenis, or two thirds of the total population, need humanitarian assistance.

Adimi is one of the government employees who lost income after the Houthi rebels ousted the Yemeni government from Sanaa in 2014. Many of her colleagues in the education ministry had to resort to driving taxis, selling deli food or even, scavenging food from the dump.

Like them, Adimi was forced to look for other jobs to make ends meet.

"I picked up my childhood hobby as a full-time job because I didn't know what else I could do. There are not many job opportunities for women in their fifties," said Adimi. "It took a while for me to master the craft. But eventually, I became increasingly better at this."

The sale of the small fountains is not satisfying, as most of the country's population is living in destitution. But Adimi is not disheartened, because the process of making those fountains is also a process of self-healing, from the pain inflicted by the years-long conflict.

"I don't know when the war will end. I hope I can live long enough to see that day. All I can do now is living my life to the fullest," said Adimi, after finishing another small fountain. Enditem

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