Jan. 21, 2018: Yemen in 2017 – Yemen crisis far worse than we are told – Land mines – Surviving by garbage – Cultural heritage – Oman – Germany halts arms sales to saudi coalition states – The Wests's hypocrisy on Human Rights – US Army and Saudi Arabia
Schwerpunkte / Key aspects
Klassifizierung / Classification
Zuerst: Verschleppte der Huthis / At first: Houthi detainees
cp1 Am wichtigsten / Most important
cp1a Am wichtigsten: Seuchen / Most important: Epidemics
cp1b Provinz Mahrah / Mahrah province
cp2 Allgemein / General
cp2a Allgemein: Saudische Blockade / General: Saudi blockade
cp3 Humanitäre Lage / Humanitarian situation
cp4 Flüchtlinge / Refugees
cp5 Nordjemen und Huthis / Northern Yemen and Houthis
cp6 Südjemen und Hadi-Regierung / Southern Yemen and Hadi-government
cp7 UNO und Friedensgespräche / UN and peace talks
cp8 Saudi-Arabien / Saudi Arabia
cp9 USA
cp10 Großbritannien / Great Britain
cp11 Deutschland / Germany
cp12 Andere Länder / Other countries
cp12a Katar-Krise / Qatar crisis
cp12b Libanon / Lebanon
cp13a Waffenhandel / Arms Trade
cp13b Mercenaries / Söldner
cp13c Kulturerbe / Cultural heritage
cp14 Terrorismus / Terrorism
cp15 Propaganda
cp16 Saudische Luftangriffe / Saudi air raids
cp17 Kriegsereignisse / Theater of War
cp18 Sonstiges / Other
Klassifizierung / Classification
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(Kein Stern / No star)
? = Keine Einschatzung / No rating
A = Aktuell / Current news
B = Hintergrund / Background
C = Chronik / Chronicle
D = Details
E = Wirtschaft / Economy
H = Humanitäre Fragen / Humanitarian questions
K = Krieg / War
P = Politik / Politics
PH = Pro-Houthi
PS = Pro-Saudi
T = Terrorismus / Terrorism
Zuerst: Verschleppte der Huthis / At first: Houthi detainees
(* A P)
Houthi militia refuses to disclose whereabouts of abductees
The Houthis are refusing to disclose the whereabouts of more than 15 girls whom they abducted from a rally in the capital Sana'a in the middle of this month, sources in the capital said.
A large female protest was organized in al-Tahrir square in mid-January to condemn the extremist religious group's control over the capital and the deterioration of humanitarian conditions including the withhold of public employee salaries. The militia dispersed them by brutal force and reportedly abducted many than 15 of them.
The scared families have been cautiously asking about their whereabouts and did all they could but to no avail, local sources said.
https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-14771
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Houthi rebels accused of kidnapping, rape and murder
Houthi rebels kidnapped an employee of the UN migration agency in the Yemeni capital on Thursday and have been accused by the General People's Congress of raping and killing a female party worker in Ibb province.
The body of Amal Al Kalisi was found on a rubbish dump in the capital of Ibb province on Friday, a day after she had been arrested by the rebels and taken to their local headquarters, said Kamel Al Khoudani, editor of the party's Al Mithaq newspaper.
"They threw her in a garbage dump after they mutilated her body," Al Khoudani said on Twitter.
An image purportedly of Al Kalisi's body on the rubbish dump was posted on Twitter activists.
https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/houthi-rebels-accused-of-kidnapping-rape-and-murder-1.697102 and also https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-14772
(A P)
Houthi militants kidnapped in Sanaa Yehya al-Hindwana for refusing to comply with enlistment demands made by the group.
Remark: Claimed by Saudi media.
(** A P)
Film, by Hisham Al-Omeisy, his first tweet after having been released:
No amount of words can express my gratitude for everyone's support & relentless campaigning to release me. I owe my life to you all.
https://twitter.com/omeisy/status/954334368390172672
and film, showing Hisham Al-Omeisy and his sons ther day he had been released:
https://twitter.com/Moyenne1/status/953819274077974529
(* A P)
32 prisoners involved in December sedition released in Hajjah
A total of 32 prisoners who had been arrested during December sedition were released on Thursday following an amnesty decree issued by President Saleh al-Sammad, an interior ministry official told Saba on Friday.
The releasers confirmed that they will be loyal soldiers to the homeland and its security and stability and against the calls of separation, sabotage and chaos.
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news485239.htm
(** B P)
Hisham is free, but Yemen's 'disappeared' crisis continues
The words of Martin Luther King, "Free, at last," come into their own, as one Yemen's top social media activists, Hisham al-Omeisy, 38, walks free from a Houthi jail in Sanaa, after five month's detention.
The Houthis did not officially charge him, or allow him access to a lawyer or to his family. His arrest, however, was likely linked to his job at the US embassy in Sanaa. Hisham's case was so sensitive, that we - his friends - couldn't and still can't reveal much of our conversations with his family in Sanaa, without risking their safety.
But as we celebrate Hisham's release, it must also serve as a reminder of Yemen's "disappeared crisis"; the thousands of forcibly disappeared young men across the country, who don't enjoy Hisham's high media profile, and whose names and faces we don't hear about.
With some 12,000 arrests and more than 3,000 men forcibly disappeared, mothers, sisters and daughters of these abducted men began showing up in front of the central prison or police stations across major Yemeni cities, searching for their kidnapped sons, fathers, brothers and other male relatives. They started to organise and formed a collective named, "Mothers of Abductees Association".
The Association works as a pressure-group, raising awareness of the missing men, and advocating for their release.
The collective's spokesperson told me in a phone interview that many young men are forcibly disappeared for their political activities, and some for no reason at all.
In many cases, the mothers have no information or access to their imprisoned relatives - only if they are lucky they might receive some information. The imprisoned young men are held in terrible conditions and exposed to severe torture.
Dozens have been killed under torture, or have to endure a lasting disability from their wounds. Some parents even risk assault if they question Houthi authorities. In this incident, a young forcibly disappeared man's father was assaulted and beaten to death in front of the prison when he went searching for his son.
Journalists face disappearance because of their work, as affirmed by the recently freed Yousef Al-Ajlan who was released from a Houthis prison in Sanaa after a year-long detention.
Nonetheless, increased pressure and domestic and international condemnation are needed until all of Yemen's disappeared people are found, and freed – by Afrah Nasser
(B P)
Troch: Religiös motiviertes Todesurteil im Jemen ist ein grausames Unrecht
SPÖ-Menschenrechtssprecher Harald Troch bezeichnete das am 2. Jänner 2018 von einem Sondergericht in Sanaa, Jemen, verhängte Todesurteil gegen Hamid bin Haydara, einem Bahá’í, als grausames Unrecht, das durch Einfluss der internationalen Gemeinschaft unbedingt außer Kraft gesetzt werden müsse. Arabische Medien haben kommentiert, dass zum ersten Mal in der Geschichte des Jemens ein religiös motiviertes Todesurteil gefällt worden sei.
https://diebewertung.at/troch-religioes-motiviertes-todesurteil-im-jemen-ist-ein-grausames-unrecht/
cp1 Am wichtigsten / Most important
(** B H K P)
Yemen: Events of 2017
Human Rights Watch has documented 85 apparently unlawful coalition airstrikes, which have killed nearly 1,000 civilians and hit homes, markets, hospitals, schools, and mosques. Some of these attacks may amount to war crimes.
Houthi-Saleh forces have repeatedly fired artillery indiscriminately into Yemeni cities and into southern Saudi Arabia.
Human Rights Watch documented attacks by both Houthi-Saleh and government-aligned forces inside Yemen that have struck populated neighborhoods, killing and wounding civilians.
Landmines appear to have killed and maimed hundreds of civilians, disrupted civilian life in affected areas, and will pose a threat to civilians long after the conflict ends.
Houthi-Saleh forces have used landmines in at least six governorates.
Human Rights Watch has documented the Saudi-led coalition using six types of widely banned cluster munitions, including those produced in the US and Brazil, in attacks that targeted populated areas, killing and wounding dozens.
Houthi-Saleh forces, the Yemeni government, and the UAE and UAE-backed Yemeni forces arbitrarily detained people, including children, abused detainees and held them in poor conditions, and forcibly disappeared people perceived to be political opponents or security threats. The number of the “disappeared” is growing.
Both Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and the Islamic State in Yemen (IS-Y) claimed responsibility for numerous suicide and other bombings.
The Saudi-led coalition’s restrictions on imports have worsened the dire humanitarian situation. The coalition has delayed and diverted fuel tankers, closed critical ports and stopped goods from entering seaports controlled by the Houthis. Fuel needed to power generators to hospitals and pump water to civilian residences has also been blocked.
The UN secretary-general included the Houthis, government forces, pro-government militias, AQAP, and the Saudi-led coalition on his annual “list of shame” for grave violations against children during armed conflict.
Houthi forces, government and pro-government forces, and other armed groups have used child soldiers, an estimated one-third of the fighters in Yemen. By August 2017, the UN had documented 1,702 cases of child recruitment since March 2015, 67 percent of which were attributable to Houthi-Saleh forces.
Violence against women has increased 63 percent since the conflict escalated.
None of the warring parties carried out credible investigations into their forces’ alleged laws-of-war violations. In September, the OHCHR concluded that efforts towards accountability were “wholly insufficient.”
The US is not known to have conducted investigations into any alleged unlawful attacks in which its forces have taken part.
Members of the coalition have sought to avoid international legal liability by refusing to provide information on their role in unlawful attacks.
The US is a party to the conflict and risks being complicit in unlawful coalition attacks in which it takes part.
https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2018/country-chapters/yemen and short also https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/01/18/yemen-all-sides-fuel-humanitarian-crisis
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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: US$ 2.96 billion needed to provide life-saving assistance to 13.1 million people in Yemen in 2018
The United Nations and humanitarian partners today launched the 2018 Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan (YHRP) which seeks US$2.96 billion to provide lifesaving assistance to 13.1 million people this year. This is the largest consolidated humanitarian appeal for Yemen ever launched.
Three years of escalated conflict has turned Yemen into the worst man-made humanitarian crisis of our time. Three quarters of the population – 22.2 million people – need humanitarian assistance, including 11.3 million people in acute need who urgently require assistance to survive.
A generation of children is growing up in suffering and deprivation. Nearly two million children are out of school, 1.8 million children under the age of five are acutely malnourished, including 400,000 who suffer from a severe acute malnutrition and are 10 times more likely to die if they do not receive medical treatment.
“Humanitarian assistance is not the solution to the plight of the people of Yemen, but it is the only lifeline for millions of them,” said Jamie McGoldrick, Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen. “Today, humanitarian partners appeal to the international community to support this critical lifeline.”
The 2018 YHRP targets people in acute need or at risk of slipping into acute need. The plan is tailored to address the needs of internally displaced people, returnees and host communities in a more sustainable manner through the implementation of integrated humanitarian programmes in areas where the risks of famine, disease outbreak and protracted displacement converge.
and
Yemen: Humanitarian Response Plan January-December 2018
THE HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE PLAN AT A GLANCE
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE
OVERVIEW OF THE CRISIS
Entering the third year of humanitarian crisis, conflict, severe economic decline, and collapsing essential public services have taken an enormous toll on the Yemeni population, exacerbating existing vulnerabilities.
Yemenis are facing multiple crises, including armed conflict, displacement, risk of famine and disease outbreaks that have created the worst man-made humanitarian crisis. Some 75 per cent of the population – 22.2 million people – are in need of humanitarian assistance, including 11.3 million people in acute need who urgently require immediate assistance to survive – an increase by one million since June 2017. Vulnerable populations in 107 out of 333 districts are facing heightened risk of famine and require integrated response efforts to avert a looming catastrophe.
This chapter briefly summarizes the overall impact of the crisis. More details and sector-specific needs analyses appear in the 2018 Yemen Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO). The already dire humanitarian situation outlined in the 2018 HNO further deteriorated after its publication. During November and December 2017 hostilities escalated and the extended closure of Yemen’s ports for commercial imports resulted in a sharp increase in prices of basic commodities, accelerating food insecurity and the collapse of already fragile basic services. For this YHRP, partners have revisited their planning assumptions to ensure that this aggravation of the situation is reflected.
https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/yemen-humanitarian-response-plan-january-december-2018 and in full https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/20180120_HRP_YEMEN_Final.pdf
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Yemen's Crisis is Far Worse Than We're Told
Shireen Al-Adeimi in a straightforward interview on the situation in #Yemen, the international players involved and how media is obscuring the reality from within the country.
Blockade, famine, Al Qaeda, lack of water and - for many Yemenis - even hope.
UNICEF says the war in Yemen is killing or wounding five children every single day. But Shireen Al-Adeimi says the figure drastically under-counts the real toll of the Saudi-led, U.S.-backed bombing and blockade
S.A.A.: They are, in fact, an understatement. These figures are reporting the number of children who are directly injured or killed because of violence. They're not reporting, of course, the children who are dying every single day because of malnutrition, because of diseases like cholera and, now, diphtheria largely due to the blockade that the Saudis were imposing and are still imposing on Yemen. Those figures are much worse, unfortunately. In November, Save the Children reported that 130 children are dying each and every single day because of these other causes that are not just because of the violence that is perpetrated by Saudi Arabia.
The Port of Hodeidah on the Red Sea is the most important port for Yemenis. This is where we used to import most of our food and, also, we don't need it just for aid, we also need it for trade, which is completely halted at the moment because of the war. They've blockaded land, sea, and air. They've been imposing this blockade for about three years now. They've intensified the blockade over the last couple months, which is why it was getting media attention.
Essentially, the Saudis want to take over. They want to install their own puppet government in Yemen. They're trying everything at their disposal, including using hunger as a weapon of war, which, of course, we know is illegal. But they keep getting away with it.
It's a bit hypocritical for Obama administrators to now finally say, "Oh, okay, now that this is a Trump war on Yemen, now we're against it." But nonetheless, we need lawmakers in the Senate and in the House, lawmakers such as Chris Murphy, who have been calling adamantly for U.S. to stop its support of Saudi Arabia military.
I mean, it wasn't a secret. We all know that the U.S. Army is helping the Saudis. But just if you click on that link and you go to that article, the extent of that alliance is outlined. In each paragraph, basically they're saying that the Saudis are incompetent and we're helping them become more competent. They're acknowledging that there are Saudi casualties at the Yemen border and they said that the number of casualties is classified, but it's high. They're training them on how to save Saudi soldier lives. They are helping them with maintaining aircraft, vehicles, and updating them and what not.
Trump can say, "Oh, lift the blockade," or the Obama administration can say, "Well, we don't like this anymore," but just the extent of support has been going on for so long and it hasn't waned despite the huge humanitarian crisis that we know is caused by this war. Despite the staggering number of lives that have been lost, the U.S. still proudly supports Saudi Arabia in that endeavor. That is unfortunate.
http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=20931 and film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3hWkgYY-fU = https://www.facebook.com/LivingInYemenOnTheEdge/videos/1620847457968278/
(** B H K)
Film: Landmines are a "silent killer" in Yemen’s war
Since Yemen's civil war broke out in 2015, almost 9,000 people have been maimed or killed by landmines. 65,272 landmines have been located and destroyed since the war began
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Z2PHsszDmM
and
(** A H K)
Al-Mashouk Calls for Urgent Help to Face the Catastrophe of Land Mines
Hussain Mashouk, a writer and analyst, launched an urgent call for facing land mines that kill innocent citizens every hour.
The situation reached its worst peak in Bihan and Osilan where land mines kill and distort citizens, mothers and children every hour. I call for free media men all over the world to make the cries of those innocent victims to be heard.
We call for all those who are concerned to declare the two directorates as being plagued by land mines and to interfere immediately to clear land mines from roads, farms, villages and residences. We call for colonel Haitham Atef, director of Adan Executive Center for Dealing with Land Mines to send mine squads to clear the area. We call for governor of Shabwa to interfere with his department to revive the totally destroyed services in the area.
http://en.smanews.org/al-mashouk-calls-for-urgent-help-to-face-the-catastrophe-of-land-mines
(** B H)
Jemen: Überleben mit Müll
Hunderttausende Jemeniten sind vom Hungertod bedroht, Millionen innerhalb des Landes auf der Flucht. Auch die Familie Ruzaiq musste ihr Heimatdorf aus Angst vor Angriffen verlassen. Sie lebt nun vom Müll der anderen (photos)
http://www.dw.com/de/jemen-%C3%BCberleben-mit-m%C3%BCll/g-42212143
and in English:
(** B H)
Displaced by war, some Yemenis sift through garbage for food
After persistent Saudi-led air strikes on their home area in northwest Yemen, the Ruzaiq family packed their belongings and fled to the relative safety of Hodeidah port on the Red Sea.
But with no money or relatives to shelter them, the 18-member family joined a growing number of displaced Yemenis living on or next to the garbage dump of the Houthi-controlled city.
Despite the health risks, the dump has become a source of food for hundreds of impoverished Yemenis and given some young men a chance to try to earn some income.
“We eat and drink the food that is thrown away,” said 11-year-old Ayoub Mohammed Ruzaiq. “We collect fish, meat, potatoes, onions and flour to make our own food.”
Fatema Hassan Marouai, 53, who was driven from her home in Hodeidah by economic hardships, said that apart from picking up food thrown away by better off Yemenis, some displaced people collect metal cans and plastic bottles to sell to merchants for some cash to cover daily needs.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security-poverty/displaced-by-war-some-yemenis-sift-through-garbage-for-food-idUSKBN1F71WV and photos: https://widerimage.reuters.com/story/displaced-yemeni-family-sift-through-garbage-for-food and also here http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/heartbreaking-photos-children-searching-food-rubbish-dump-1655773
(** B H)
Yemen's Tragedy: A First Responder's Blog from Inside the Crisis
A young working mother who lives and works in a country mired in civil war and hovering on the edge of famine draws new strength and inspiration from the daily marathon her life has become following the birth of her second child
Doa’a Kutbi, a senior health and nutrition officer who works from our office in the southern port city of Aden, looks back on her three and a half years with International Medical Corps, where she has successfully nurtured an important program that offers both vital nutrition intake and quality health care to pregnant and nursing mothers and young children. She joined us just seven months after qualifying as a surgeon and becoming a mother—both on the same day! Since then she has taken on two additional titles: humanitarian—earned through her work with us—and Internally Displaced Person or IDP, a classification she received in the spring of 2015 after she and her family were forced to flee their home when Aden became a battleground in the country’s civil war. In her own words, her story is below:
I earned the two most significant titles of achievement in my life on the same day: surgeon and mother. I was taking the final exam required for my certificate to practice surgery when I went into labor. I finished the exam, then went directly to the hospital where I delivered my first child! It was a day I will never forget and the timing of those two events helped lead me to join International Medical Corps. My husband and I decided I should stay at home for six months so I could exclusively breast feed our new-born son, Sam, and it was during this time that my husband saw an International Medical Corps advertisement seeking an assistant for a new Health and Nutrition program.
International Medical Corps began working in southern of Yemen in 2014 when it implemented health, nutrition, WASH and Food Security programs in Lahj Governorate, an area which borders Aden. It ranked among the areas most severely affected by the country’s nutritional crisis, with more than half the population designated as food insecure. Unstable security conditions prevented us from opening a sub-office in Lahj, so we had to operate the program from Aden. Learning how to balance my life with the demands of a new job and a new baby was also a personal challenge for me – by Doa’a Kutbi
https://internationalmedicalcorps.org/story/yemen-first-responder/
(** B P)
#Yemen: Telegram wire circulates names of 25 killed over past 18 months in #Aden prisons run with #UAE support. Main cause of death is #torture. Obviously this list is unverified but the source is usually reliable. Claims several more cases still unconfirmed (image)
https://twitter.com/Dr_E_Kendall/status/954680574249185280
(** B K)
The Destruction of Yemen and Its Cultural Heritage
Even less visible than the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Yemen has been the systematic degradation of the country's millennia-old cultural heritage by the coalition, its Yemeni opponents, and jihadi terrorist groups including the so-called Islamic State (IS). Tragically, much of this damage, notably that from Saudi air strikes and from demolitions carried out by the IS, appears to be intentional. 3The systemic destruction of the country's cultural heritage is in effect a targeting of its people and a gradual erasure of their cultural identity—once a point of unity amongst Yemenis.
Yemen's cultural heritage is as unique as it is universal, and those who value it most (often intuitively) are Yemenis themselves
It is difficult to rationalize destruction of cultural heritage in any context, and even more so in this land where the past, the present, and the landscape are intricately interrelated. Since March 2015, counts of damaged or destroyed archaeological sites (ten), museums (eight), mosques (ten) and churches (two), tombs (over seventeen), monuments and old cities, and UNESCO World Heritage Sites (six) exceed seventy-eight according to the official Yemeni list. 8Fifty-nine of these have been damaged or destroyed by Saudi coalition bombs (seventeen in the range of 70 to 100 percent destroyed) despite the coalition having been handed by UNESCO no fly lists of cultural heritage to avoid. Two sites have been damaged by opposition forces and the remaining seventeen were damaged by explosives detonated by al-Qaʿida and the IS (thirteen of these are in the range of 70 to 100 percent destroyed and one of them includes six tombs). Three of these damaged sites are UNESCO World Heritage Sites and include the historic cities of Sanaa, Zabid, and Shibam, while three others—Thula, Marib, and Saada—are on the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
In addition, there has been damage from coalition bombardment (collateral or direct) to museums.
In addition to the seventy-eight confirmed sites, irreparable damage to architecture, museum collections, and archaeological sites was incurred as a result of collateral damage from ground combat and aerial bombing, lack of upkeep, and looting of sites by locals and foreign forces made possible as a result of the chaos and lawlessness that now reigns, and facilitated by acts of desperation and hunger. All of these factors have further enabled a traffic in recently stolen and looted antiquities only just beginning to appear on the market and in private collections.
This is the sorry state of affairs after more than two years. The UN has demonstrated time and again that it is incapable of being impartial.
Just as the coordinates of hospitals and World Food Program food warehouses were and continue to be given repeatedly to the coalition so that they are protected from air raids, 9so were site and monument coordinates, and all have been repeatedly hit by US-made bombs from coalition planes. This may simply be one of many forms of “archaeology of power” which Lynn Meskell describes as a “means to obliterate, silence and negate other histories and ways of dwelling in the same space.” – by Lamya Khalidi
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/international-journal-of-middle-east-studies/article/destruction-of-yemen-and-its-cultural-heritage/53D08264CAACB808618BCF9D70053D25/share/612a0e1ed7b150b26fa0815191bf49bc75a022e6# and html: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/international-journal-of-middle-east-studies/article/destruction-of-yemen-and-its-cultural-heritage/53D08264CAACB808618BCF9D70053D25/core-reader
(** B H P)
'Salalah forever': Oman's security wall can't dent deep Yemeni ties
Since Yemen's civil war started three years ago, Oman has extended a wall along their border, but it is also treating Yemen's sick and injured.
Oman has been tightening the border since the war in Yemen began three years ago as more Yemenis have sought refuge in their stable neighbour, and as a deterrent to smuggling.
One of the ways Oman is moving to prevent smuggling people and goods, including stolen cars and qat, is by building a wall along its border with Yemen.
A military officer confirmed to Middle East Eye that the wall is now 192km long, after five years of construction beginning in the north. Building will continue for at least another three years, he said.
"I think the wall is good for both countries, to stop the smuggling – cars, people, animals, and qat. There are so many problems coming out of Yemen," said the writer, who is close to the government.
To prove its humanitarian approach, he said that Oman is building a new medical centre close to the border with Yemen to treat people injured in the war.
"To take patients to Salalah is maybe three to four hours, so it is easier to treat them at the border." MEE could not independently verify this.
The authorities have at times suspended the visa system at the border when too many people come, he said.
An exception is made for the injured and sick. Doctors who work with the chief of the border police verify the injuries and then those needed treament are allowed to enter Oman and are taken to the Sultan Qaboos hospital in Salalah.
"We have so many Yemenis here," said a staff nurse in the male medical ward at the hospital when Middle East Eye visited.
Yemeni patients and their families are here at the expense of the government, local sources confirmed.
Outside the hospital were a number of Yemeni inpatients and family members.
All are treated regardless of which side they are aligned with in the conflict, the doctor said.
"Oman throughout is history tries to make friends with all the world," said the writer in Salalah.
"We have nothing in regard to Yemen except friendship." – by Joe Gill
http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/salalah-forever-yemeni-home-oman-across-troubled-border-815508113
My comment: Oman is different.
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SPD kippt Rüstungsexporte in Konfliktzone
Zähneknirschen in der Union und Freude bei den Sozialdemokraten. Ein kleiner Satz im Sondierungspapier soll die Wende bei umstrittenen Waffenlieferungen in die Golfregion bringen.
Der Satz, der gewaltige Auswirkungen für Millionen-Euro-schwere Rüstungsprojekte haben dürfte, taucht weit hinten auf im Sondierungspapier, auf das sich Union und SPD kürzlich geeinigt haben - in Zeile 1210. "Die Bundesregierung wird ab sofort keine Ausfuhren an Länder genehmigen, solange diese am Jemen-Krieg beteiligt sind", heißt es sehr knapp und sehr klar. Rüstungsexporte in Konfliktregionen - darüber ist in den vergangenen Jahren viel im Bundestag gestritten worden. Dass die Wende in dieser Frage so unspektakulär eingeleitet werden könnte, darf da schon verwundern.
Oder schon eingeleitet ist? Es wurde im Regierungsviertel heftig diskutiert, was die Formulierung jetzt konkret bedeutet. Schließlich ist die Rede von "ab sofort". Regierungssprecher Steffen Seibert wich zunächst aus, als er darauf angesprochen wurde, ob das wirklich das sofortige Ende von Genehmigungen für Rüstungsausfuhren bedeutet. "Für die Mitglieder der geschäftsführenden Bundesregierung ist bindend, was die Ministerien der geschäftsführenden Mitglieder miteinander vereinbaren", lautet einer der Null-Sätze des Sprechers der Kanzlerin dazu.
Deutsche Lastwagen und Boote für die Kriegsparteien
Präzisierung war nötig: denn unklar ist der Passus natürlich auch in Bezug auf die bereits genehmigten Rüstungsprojekte an Länder, die in den Jemen-Konflikt verwickelt sind. Das geht weit über Staaten wie Saudi-Arabien, Katar, die Vereinigten Arabischen Emirate, Kuwait und Jordanien hinaus.
Je länger sich die politisch Aktiven im Berliner Regierungsviertel mit den Zeilen 1210 und 1211 im Sondierungspapier beschäftigen, desto rätselhafter werden sie ihnen – von Heiner Kiesel
http://www.dw.com/de/spd-kippt-r%C3%BCstungsexporte-in-konfliktzone/a-42220893
Bemerkung: Weitere Artikel in cp13a
and English version:
(** A K P)
German ban on arms exports to Yemen conflict called into question
As part of German government coalition talks, the major parties have announced a stop on all arms exports to any countries involved in the war in Yemen. But confusion remains over what the deal means.
The German government had announced Friday that it would "immediately" stop approving arms exports to any country participating in the war in Yemen. The move would include Saudi Arabia, a major buyer of German weapons.
The document agreed upon by Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU), its Bavarian sister party CSU and the Social Democrats (SPD) in exploratory coalition talks contains a sentence with major ramifications. The sentence, nestled towards the end of the document, could put and end to arms deals worth millions of euros. It succinctly states: "Effective immediately, the government will prohibit arms exports to countries involved in the Yemen conflict." Over the past years, German parliamentarians have debated extensively whether or not to condone arms exports to conflict regions. Now, a turnaround appears to have been decided in a surprisingly nonchalant manner.
Or was the turnaround a fait accompli? Speculation has ensued in Berlin over how the sentence should be interpreted. After all, it does state the turnaround is "effective immediately."
Asked whether this declaration really meant the immediate end to German arms exports, government spokesman Steffen Seibert circumnavigated the issue and flatly stated: "Members of Germany's caretaker government are bound by what the ministries agree among each other." It was one of several vague statements made by Chancellor Angela Merkel's longtime spokesman, when members of the press pounced upon the opportunity to question him at a regularly held press briefing.
Seibert also stated: "We make rigorous case-by-case assessments on the basis of Germany's strict rules governing arms exports." Shortly after the press conference ended, he took to Twitter to say the following: "To clarify: The government will not approve arms exports that contravene agreements made in the exploratory coalition talks."
The more time political figures in Berlin spend trying to analyze the exact meaning of the arms ban clause, the more confused they become – by Heiner Kiesel
http://www.dw.com/en/german-ban-on-arms-exports-to-yemen-conflict-called-into-question/a-42238475
Remark: More English articles on Germany’s decision: cp13a
(** A K P)
Waffen im Jemen-Krieg: Wie die SPD den Exportstopp erzwang
Jahrelang wurde über Rüstungsexporte an Staaten wie Saudi Arabien oder Katar gestritten. Nun haben sich Union und SPD bei den Sondierungen auf ein sofortiges Verbot geeinigt - eine folgenreiche Kehrtwende.
"Dieser Punkt geht klar an die SPD." Der CSU-Verteidigungspolitiker Florian Hahn ärgert sich immer noch über den einen wichtigen Satz, der nach der langen Nacht der Sondierung weit hinten im gemeinsamen Papier von Union und SPD stand: "Die Bundesregierung wird ab sofort keine Ausfuhren an Länder genehmigen, so lange diese am Jemen-Krieg beteiligt sind." Ab sofort - das bedeutet nicht nur eine Absichtserklärung für die Zukunft, sondern eine Entscheidung, die schon jetzt der geschäftsführenden Regierung verbietet, Rüstungsexporte in diese Länder zu erlauben.
Es geht um nicht weniger als eine 180-Grad-Wende, von der nahezu alle großen Importländer betroffen sind. Auch wenn das Wirtschaftsministerium die vollständigen Zahlen für 2017 noch zurückhält, addieren sich die Summen schon bis Mitte November auf rund eine Milliarde Euro. An der Spitze liegt Ägypten mit rund 434 Millionen, es folgen Saudi-Arabien (264 Millionen), die Vereinigten Arabischen Emirate (224 Millionen), Kuwait (51 Millionen), Jordanien (24 Millionen) und Katar (vier Millionen).
Von Beginn an hatte der Verteidigungspolitiker der CSU gemeinsam mit Verteidigungsministerin Ursula von der Leyen alles versucht, einen solchen Stopp von Rüstungsexporten zu verhindern.
Dabei war das Thema Waffenexporte erst nachträglich auf Drängen des SPD-Außenexperten Rolf Mützenich auf die Tagesordnung gesetzt worden.
Der Stopp der Rüstungsexporte gehörte am Ende zu den Forderungen, die Martin Schulz und vor allem Andrea Nahles in der langen Nacht im Willy-Brandt-Haus noch durchsetzen konnten.
Viele in der Union, die sich über das Einlenken ärgern, setzen nun auf den Widerstand aus der Arbeitnehmerschaft.
Doch die SPD-Spitze will sich in dieser Frage nicht unter Druck setzen lassen und den Beschluss auch auf dem Parteitag am Sonntag als Erfolg vertreten.
Rückenwind kommt von den Kirchen, die seit Jahren auf eine restriktivere Praxis bei Rüstungsexporten drängen.
Am Mittag schien es allerdings, als ob dieses Lob verfrüht gekommen sei. In der Bundespressekonferenz äußerte sich Regierungssprecher Steffen Seibert so missverständlich, dass dies von den anwesenden Journalisten übereinstimmend als Dementi eines bindenden Exportstopps interpretiert wurde. Seiberts Äußerungen lösten in der SPD Empörung und hektische Aktivitäten aus, schien sich die Kanzlerin offensichtlich zwei Tage vor dem Parteitag von einem der großen Sondierungserfolge der SPD zu distanzieren – von Arnd Henze
https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/ruestungsexportstopp-101.html
(** B P)
The West’s use and abuse of human rights in foreign affairs
IAN SINCLAIR shines a light on the US and British governments’ selective concern for human rights
In addition to being a useful weapon to deploy against enemy states, the concept of human rights is also used to manipulate domestic public opinion.
Speaking to US academic Dr James Davidson about the 2001 US-led invasion of Afghanistan, a senior British intelligence official noted: “It is always helpful for governments who want to get the Guardian readers of the world on board to have a humanitarian logic.”
The US and British governments’ selective concern for human rights is broadly mirrored by the mainstream media.
Analysing the US media in their 1988 book Manufacturing Consent, Edward Herman and Noam Chomsky look at “paired examples.”
For instance, they consider the different quantity and quality of coverage given to priests killed in Soviet Union-era Poland compared with religious figures murdered by US-backed dictatorships in Latin America, and the mass killing in Cambodia compared with the mass killing carried out by US client Indonesia in East Timor.
“A propaganda system will consistently portray people abused in enemy states as worthy victims, whereas those treated with equal or greater severity by its own government or clients will be unworthy,” they conclude.
Dr David Wearing, a teaching fellow in international relations at Royal Holloway, University of London, recently highlighted a similar relationship between British commentators and the ongoing wars in Syria and Yemen.
Speaking on the Media Democracy podcast, he notes that although the conflicts are not identical, there is a high level of similarity: both are brutal, complex civil wars with large amounts of indiscriminate killing, lots of internal and external actors, which has led to the creation of huge humanitarian crises.
In Syria, the evidence suggests the Assad government and its allies are responsible for the majority of non-combatant deaths.
However, in Yemen — where “the cholera outbreak is probably the worst the world has ever seen,” according to the UN’s undersecretary-general and emergency relief co-ordinator — the main danger to civilians is from British ally Saudi Arabia, dropping British-made bombs from British-made warplanes.
Wearing goes on to observe: “We know all about Syria because Syria is on the front page of every newspaper, Syria is at the top of news bulletins, Syria is the subject of one op-ed after another saying: ‘Why don’t we do something about this, we should intervene’.”
Turning to the conflict in the Gulf, he asks: “Where is the coverage of Yemen? It’s not on the front pages, it’s not at the top of the news bulletins. You’ll struggle to find an opinion article about it in any of the major newspapers.” Indeed, he notes: “The very opinion writers who will be urging us to intervene in Syria … the liberal interventionist-types … [there is] not a word from people like that about Yemen.”
Searching David Aaronovitch’s Twitter timeline, I found that since Saudi Arabia’s intervention in Yemen commenced in March 2015, The Times columnist has mentioned the word “Syria” in 75 tweets (this figure, and all the subsequent figures I quote, excludes retweets).
In contrast, I counted Aaronovitch had mentioned “Yemen” in a total of three tweets over the same period.
To put this government-friendly focus in context, since March 2015 Aaronovitch has tweeted about The Archers BBC Radio 4 soap opera at least 26 times.
In fact he seems to have tweeted about just one character, Ruth Archer, as much as he has tweeted about Yemen.
In one sense this uniformity of emphasis is an awe-inspiring phenomenon to behold. More seriously, the British commentariat’s relative silence has grave consequences for the population of Yemen — the British government’s support for the Saudi war machine can only continue with the British public’s acquiescence.
Therefore it is the job of activists and concerned citizens is to draw the public’s attention to Britain’s deadly role in Yemen – by Ian Sinclair
(** B K P)
From US Army website:
Army builds sustaining military partnership with Saudi Arabia
The Saudi Arabian National Guard has enormous capacity, and the U.S. Army helps them develop that into powerful capability, said Maj. Gen. Frank Muth.
Some 130,000 personnel within the SANG are divided into 17 brigades, with assets that include both AH-64E Apache and UH-60D Black Hawk helicopters. The SANG also has 1,900 light armored vehicles, the largest LAV fleet in the world, said Muth, Office of the Program Manager-SANG, which falls under U.S. Army Materiel Command.
"One of our missions is taking that capacity, which is part of the foreign military sales process, and building capability. Otherwise, it's just sitting there in the motor pool collecting dust," said Muth, during a military conference in October.
Helping SANG develop capability to make use of that capacity are 130 U.S. Soldiers and a group of contractors. Muth said that in time he's been on board as the OPM-SANG, he's seen vast improvements in SANG's capability.
The U.S.'s advise, train and assist mission with the SANG includes such things as vehicle and aircraft maintenance as well as flight training, Muth said.
When one of the SANG brigades returned from fighting at the border with Yemen, for instance, 19 of their LAVs were shot up pretty badly, Muth said. The U.S. advisors there learned the SANG didn't have a battle damage and repair facility to fix the vehicles.
Working with the Saudis, Muth said, his team found an old building that was rebuilt and converted into a repair facility.
Currently, Saudis and members of the Gulf Cooperation Council nations go to the U.S. for flight training, he said. The hope is that GCC nations can use the new Saudi school instead.
In all, the U.S. team oversees 123 contracts in the kingdom, worth $120 million per month.
All of that contract funding, as well as the entire salaries of U.S. military and contractors on the team who assist SANG, comes from the kingdom, he pointed out.
https://www.army.mil/article/199012
Comment: The Saudi war on #Yemen is only possible because of the extensive support they receive from the US. Here's proof of that support, straight from the horse's mouth.
The extent of US military support to the Saudis is astonishing. They're involved in everything from training & advising soldiers, to maintaining/repairing/upgrading vehicles & aircraft, as well as providing courses on communications, navigation, & "how to lead by example."
https://twitter.com/shireen818/status/953748574906601472
cp1a Am wichtigsten: Seuchen / Most important: Epidemics
(** A H)
Malaria stalks Yemen amid collapsing health system
After enduring three years of war, hunger and disease, Yemenis could now be at heightened risk of catching malaria due to a collapsing health care system, aid agencies said on Thursday.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that malaria cases rose in 2016 to 433,000 from 336,000 the year before.
Poor access to healthcare, clean water and sanitation put more people at risk of the life-threatening disease, according to aid agencies.
“Yemen is living with the catastrophic consequences of a protracted conflict that has destroyed much of its vital infrastructure and brought the health system to the brink of collapse,” said Mirella Hodeib, spokeswoman for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
“The numbers of malaria cases could increase. It will be more serious if there is no treatment or preventative measures. People will die,” said Radman from the capital of Sanaa.
Malaria - which peaks in the rainy season - is endemic in Yemen, with more than 78 percent of people living in at-risk areas and a quarter of them in high-risk areas, WHO said.
Yemen’s health ministry, along with aid organizations, has distributed protective items such as mosquito nets, but Radman called the deteriorating situation a “serious issue”.
“A failing sewage system, inadequate healthcare facilities and shortages in health workers and medical supplies, as well as restrictions on imports further compound the healthcare crisis,” said Hodeib of ICRC.
and
(* A H)
#Malaria affects thousands of Yemenis, especially in the most vulnerable areas like the Osman valley in #Amran governorate. In October and November 2017, #MSF ran an intervention to treat malaria patients and put prevention measures in place.
https://twitter.com/msf_yemen/status/954389652781305858
#Malaria in #Yemen:“Most deaths from malaria disease can be linked to lack of early diagnosis and treatment due to poor access to healthcare and lack of preventive measures and the collapse of the health system in Yemen”,explains Caroline Seguin, #MSF Programme Manager for Yemen
https://twitter.com/msf_yemen/status/954669683004923904
In previous years, Ministry of Health responded to increasing #malaria cases by providing treatment & vector control. However, because of the conflict &the collapse of the health system, Ministry of Health can’t maintain the same level of response &the situation is deteriorating
https://twitter.com/msf_yemen/status/954791655424577538
(* A H)
Yemen: Cholera Response Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin: W2 2018 (Jan 08-Jan 14)
The cumulative total from 27 April 2017 to 14 Jan 2018 is 1,035,676 suspected cholera cases and 2,244 associated deaths, (CFR 0.22%), 1100 have been confirmed by culture.
59.2 % of death were severe cases at admission - The total proportion of severe cases among the suspected cases is 16.8% - The national attack rate is 376 per 10,000. The five governorates with the highest cumulative attack rates per 10,000 remain Amran (880), Al Mahwit (836), Al Dhale’e (644), Hajjah (508) and Sana’a (503).
Children under 5 years old represent 28.6% of total suspected cases.
At governorate level, the trend from W52 2017-W2 2018 decrease or was stable in all governorates except (Al Bayda governorate) (+50%) and (Raymeh governorate) (+64%)
Trends
The weekly number of cases is decreasing for the 18 consecutive weeks.
The weekly proportion of severe cases has significantly decreased representing now 10% of the admitted cases.
(* A H)
Yemen: Cholera Response Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin: W1 2018 (Jan 01-Jan 07) [EN/AR]
The cumulative total from 27 April 2017 to 7 Jan 2018 is 1,029,717 suspected cholera cases and 2,241 associated deaths, (CFR 0.22%), 1094 have been confirmed by culture.
59.3 % of death were severe cases at admission - The total proportion of severe cases among the suspected cases is 16.8% - The national attack rate is 373 per 10,000. The five governorates with the highest cumulative attack rates per 10,000 remain Amran (877), Al Mahwit (832), Al Dhale’e (644), Hajjah (504) and Sana’a (498).
Children under 5 years old represent 28.6% of total suspected cases.
(** A H)
Whooping cough joins killers in #Yemen. Reports said today 10s of cases have been reported in Ibb city.
https://twitter.com/fuadrajeh/status/952275677599977472
cp1a Provinz Mahrah / Mahrah province
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Mahrah_Governorate
(** A K P)
Saudi Arabia increased its presence in eastern Yemen to combat smuggling routes. Saudi military reinforcements arrived at al Ghaydah port in al Mahrah governorate on January 18. Saudi Arabia began sending military equipment to al Mahrah in mid-November 2017. Mahri tribal leaders reaffirmed their willingness to cooperate with the Saudi-led coalition’s anti-smuggling efforts in late December 2017. The coalition pledged to coordinate with local authorities and not to empower select tribes. Iran has used smuggling routes through al Mahrah to support the al Houthi movement throughout the civil war.[2]
(** A P)
#Women in east #Yemen's #Mahra protested again today, this time in al-Ghayda by Governor's HQ, vs #Saudi-supported plans to build #Salafi centre for extreme sheikh al-Hajuri who led proselytisation in #Dammaj. Slogans include "Mahra's lights won't be snuffed out by extremists" (photo)
https://twitter.com/Dr_E_Kendall/status/953624984844488704
Remark: What happens there seems to be of greater importance as Saudi Arabia tries to gain a foothold there. Look at the whole thread by E. Kendall: https://twitter.com/Dr_E_Kendall/status/946001936754470912 . Earlier reporting on this planned Salafi center, Saudi actions and local protests in earlier YPRs. Look at
http://moderndiplomacy.eu/2018/01/13/salafi-mission-calls-question-saudi-concept-moderation-policy-yemen/ = https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/salafi-mission-calls-into-question-saudi-concept-of_us_5a59bdc5e4b0a233482e0b73
and also
https://twitter.com/Dr_E_Kendall/status/950787359645282304 and https://twitter.com/Dr_E_Kendall/status/950301064611409920
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Dammaj and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dammaj).
and
(** A K P)
SAUDI MILITARY REINFORCEMENT REACH AL MAHRA
Saudi military reinforcements arrived Thursday in the eastern province of Al-Mahra, bordering the Sultanate of Oman.
A local source in the province of Al-Mahara told "Sputnik" that "about 100 vehicles and military equipment, accompanied by hundreds of soldiers, arrived to the port on board of a Saudi military vessel."
According to the source, the Saudi forces aim to "strengthen the coalition forces in the border province with the Sultanate of Oman."
and
(** A K P)
Units from the #RSNF SSG landed at Nishtoon port, Al Muhrah as part of the coalition's efforts to monitor weapons smuggling activities and secure both naval and land access east of #Yemen (photos)
https://twitter.com/MbKS15/status/954116961667108864
My comment: Laughable that all this should be “to monitor weapons smuggling activities”. Better: “secure both naval and land access east of #Yemen“: Yes, Saudi Arabia occupies Yemeni territory to get a direct access from Saudi Arabia to the Indian Ocean.
And
(** A K P)
Serious #Saudi military hardware has arrived in Nishtun port in east #Yemen's #Mahra governorate, which borders #Oman. Also present in the port is vessel SAMC Ruzgar (flagged to Comoros but #UAE company. Its last recorded port of call was Jubail in Saudi on 10 Jan) (photos)
https://twitter.com/Dr_E_Kendall/status/954316671115841536
and see also (Saudis at Al Ghaydah airport): https://twitter.com/MbKS15/status/954262292790734848
and
(* A P T)
Bloodshed now starts in #Yemen's Al Mahra: #Oman citizen (of Hadhrami descent) shot dead by unknown gunmen in Mahra capital Al Ghaydah. (photo)
https://twitter.com/BaFana3/status/954329904996323329
Local media report a rare assassination in #Mahra, east #Yemen, y'day. Reports say Muhammad Ahmad al-Amari, an #Oman passport holder, was shot by unknown gunmen suspected to have used a silencer & his body left in his car along the corniche in al-Ghayda.
https://twitter.com/Dr_E_Kendall/status/954713862405804032
https://twitter.com/MaherFarrukh/status/954467037623078912 (image)
and also look at this:
(* A P)
Saudi cleric killed in rural Guinea after preaching
A Saudi Arabian Islamic preacher was killed in eastern Guinea after proselytizing to hunting communities in a remote region near the Mali border, police and lawyers said on Friday.
The preacher’s death in the village of Kantedou Balandou on Tuesday was followed by the fatal stabbing on Wednesday of the head of a group of hunters, which authorities said was likely to have been a revenge killing.
It was not yet clear who was responsible for the deaths.
But they shed some light on the breadth of Saudi ambitions to spread conservative Salafist Islam in rural West Africa, and the sometimes violent opposition they face from people practicing traditional religions.
“I can confirm that a Saudi preacher was shot dead on Tuesday,” said police spokesman Boubacar Kasse. “Initial information tells us that the victim was taken after his preaching. The day after this incident, a young local man stabbed the chief of the traditional hunters,” he said.
My comment: It’s seldom enough that we get an insight into local events related to the daily Saudi spreading of Wahabism. People are manipulated, agitated, incited, filled up with hatred, and internal strife begins. – Saudi spread of Wahabism is worldwide. In the beginning, people (Muslim and non-Muslim alike) still resist. Looking at how much many Muslim countries have changed in the last 20 years alone, you see that Wahabisation works. And the West supports it.
cp2 Allgemein / General
(* B H K)
Story of endless suffering in Yemen
Nearly 3 years have passed since the Saudi invasions of the defenseless people of Yemen. This is while the war crimes committed in this country are barely seen elsewhere throughout history.
[Overview]
http://www.tehrantimes.com/news/420495/Story-of-endless-suffering-in-Yemen
(B)
Aktuelle Lage im Jemen"Im Grunde möchte dieses Armenhaus niemand haben"
Laut Aussagen der UNO leiden nirgends auf der Welt die Menschen so wie im Jemen. Die Menschen lebten unter ärmlichsten Bedingungen, sagte der Journalist Oliver Ramme im Dlf, nachdem er den Süden des Landes eine Woche lang bereisen konnte. Auch wenn es im Süden ruhig sei, wisse niemand genau, wer die Fäden ziehe.
Oliver ramme audio: https://www.podcast.de/episode/374826110/Jemen%3A+Eindr%C3%BCcke+aus+einem+Bürgerkriegsland/
Mein Kommentar: Oberflächlich.
(* B H K)
Sheltering from bombs in the world’s biggest humanitarian crisis
Suze van Meegen was trapped in a basement for seven days in Yemen.
“There were airstrikes falling very close to our houses. It was pretty frightening.”
Suze van Meegen from Australia has, since June 2017, worked as the Norwegian Refugee Council’s (NRC) Protection and Advocacy Adviser in Sana’a, the capital of Yemen
“The thing I find most difficult about the crisis in Yemen, is how very obviously man-made it is and the extent to which several influential governments are contributing to it,” says van Meegen, who’s work involves talking to people about the conflict, analysing data, looking at economic factors and trying to make sure people know what is happening in Yemen. “It’s not in the media as it should be.”
All of this, she says, is because of political decisions being made by countries like the US, the UK, France and Norway.
Van Meegen feels that the crisis in Yemen is something that could happen anywhere.
“Previously, a lot of people were going about their lives, going to university, going to their jobs, and then suddenly they had this high level of violence thrust upon them,” she says. “A country that was previously a tourist destination is now being destroyed, its people fleeing their homes and unable to get enough to eat.”
Van Meegen is one of six international staff on NRC’s field team who were relocated from the country in December. This happened after they had spent seven days in a basement during some very serious violence in Sana’a.
“It was the highest level of violence that had been seen in that area since 2015,” she says. “I should say we left involuntarily, because we would all much prefer to be there. But we also understand that unless it’s safe, we can’t do our jobs.”
While van Meegen was waiting for the UN to let her go back to Yemen, NRC still had more than a hundred Yemeni staff operating in the war-torn country.
(A P)
OIC to Hold Emergency Meeting on Houthi Missile Attacks
Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) are scheduled to hold an emergency meeting on Sunday at the request of Saudi Arabia to discuss the repercussions of the launch of a ballistic missile by Houthi insurgents on Riyadh.
OIC Secretary-General Dr. Yousef bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen will address the ministerial meeting on the organization's stance regarding the repeated Houthi aggression.
The ministerial liaison group on Yemen will also hold a meeting on the sidelines of the ministerial meeting to discuss political, security and humanitarian developments in Yemen.
https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1148296/oic-hold-emergency-meeting-houthi-missile-attacks
(A P)
Hishammuddin To Attend Emergency OIC Meeting In Jeddah
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said he will be attending the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) emergency meeting this Sunday to discuss Yemen's attacks on Saudi Arabia.
He said all OIC members were scheduled to converge in Jeddah for the meeting.
Apart from that, Hishammuddin also said that he would be attending another meeting in Riyadh the next day to discuss the future of Yemen in terms of humanitarian aid and reconstruction in the war ravaged country.
"Our stand is very clear, we will be together with Saudi Arabia in defending the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. As for the future of Yemen, we are not planning to send troops to engage in warfare there but look into humanitarian relief and reconstruction efforts,"he said.
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v8/ge/newsgeneral.php?id=1429102 and also https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2018/01/326875/hisham-attend-oic-special-meeting-yemen-jeddah-and-riyadh
My comment: From Malaysia. – The Saudis using this mouthpiece organisation to play their bizarre game of „Yemen's attacks on Saudi Arabia“, as if there would never have been any Saudi air raids.
(B P)
The Tragedy of Yemen
https://intpolicydigest.org/2018/01/19/the-tragedy-of-yemen/
My comment: An overview of the development which led to the Yemen war, with anti-Houthi bias.
Comment: The big thing absent is : Saudi Arabia is the one who launched aggression, Not to fight Iran, but to help Iran. Iran is very happy with this aggression!
https://twitter.com/narrabyee/status/954609317881237504
(* B H K)
Hungersnot im Jemen"Es gibt keine Worte für das Elend"
Gewalt, Krankheiten, Hunger und kaum Zugang zu Hilfsmitteln - die Lage im Jemen ist katastrophal. Besonders dramatisch ist die Situation für Kinder. Eine Lösung ist dennoch nicht in Sicht.
Für das, was sich derzeit im Jemen abspielt, gibt es wohl keine Worte, die das Elend treffend beschreiben würden. Vielleicht Zahlen: "25.000 Babies sterben pro Jahr nach der Geburt oder in den ersten Lebensmonaten", sagt Mertixell Relano
(* B H P)
Der Jemen versinkt im Elend
Im Süden der Arabischen Halbinsel herrschen Hunger, Krieg und Seuchen
Die Südspitze der arabischen Halbinsel ist Schauplatz einer humanitären Katastrophe. Nach Jahren des Bürgerkriegs und dem Zusammenbruch der staatlichen Ordnung, nachdem eine noch nicht überwundene Cholera-Epidemie mehreren Tausend Menschen das Leben gekostet hat, ist nun auch noch die Diphtherie ausgebrochen.
Das Elend ist menschengemacht. Insbesondere eine Blockade der jemenitischen Häfen habe die ohnehin schon heikle Lage noch einmal verschärft, berichtet Liny Suharlim.
Die Blockade traf vor allem Hudeida am Roten Meer, die Lebensader des Jemen. Über den mit Abstand größten Hafen des Landes wurden bis dahin drei Viertel aller Importe abgewickelt.
Die Blockade hat die Inflation angetrieben
Für viele Menschen sind sauberes Wasser und funktionierende Krankenstationen außer Reichweite – und so grassiert auch die Cholera weiter.
http://www.schwaebische.de/politik/ausland_artikel,-Der-Jemen-versinkt-im-Elend-_arid,10804492.html
(A P)
Arab ambassadors review Yemen's political process
The ambassadors of 19-state group supporting the political process in Yemen have held a meeting here at the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) headquarters with participation of UN envoy to Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed.
During the meeting, they reviewed the latest political developments in Yemen, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
The meeting supported efforts exerted by the UN envoy to Yemen through a political solution in accordance with the GCC initiative and its executive mechanism, outputs of the national comprehensive dialogue and the Security Council (UNSC)'s Resolution 2216.
https://www.bna.bh/portal/en/news/821274
My comment: These meetings are pro-Saudi family meetings.
(A P)
UAE Armed Forces restructure fishing operations in Yemen's West Coast
The UAE Armed Forces, working within the framework of the Arab Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen, are chalking out a series of innovative procedures to make fishing operations in the Yemen's West Coast smoother for the fishing community. The move has been warmly welcomed by fishermen in the region.
These measures include providing comprehensive information about the fishing community, issuance of registration applications for fishermen in the area, digitisation of fishing boats and boat ownership registration.
http://wam.ae/en/details/1395302661051
My comment: THE UAE trying to play the role of ruling force on the ground. Keep in mind that the Saudi coalition had bombed a lot of fisher boats and killed a lot of fishermen in the past. Their love for the UAE will be limited.
Comment: Surreal, annoying, delusional. But based on excellent PR.
https://www.facebook.com/LivingInYemenOnTheEdge/posts/1619978974721793
and look at this article from 2016:
Yemen’s famine and the fishermen of Hodeida
(* A P)
HRW urges UN sanctions on Saudi crown prince over Yemen war
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on the United Nations to impose sanctions on Saudi Arabia's military leaders, including Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who also serves as the defense minister, over atrocities committed in the war on Yemen.
Sarah Leah Whitson, the Middle East director at HRW, denounced war crimes committed in Yemen over the past almost three years, noting, “United Nations Security Council sanctions on Houthi leaders should be extended to senior [Saudi-led] coalition military leaders, including Saudi Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman, for their role in obstructing aid and other abuses.”
http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2018/01/18/549373/Saudi-Arabia-bin-Salman-HRW-Yemen
Remark: The HRW Yemen report is listed above in cp1.
(* B E H)
DROGE AUS DEM JEMEN: Flucht in den Rausch
Im Jemen mag ein Krieg toben, das Land mag auf eine Hungerkatastrophe zusteuern – auf den rituellen, geselligen Rausch am Nachmittag wollen die Jemeniten unter keinen Umständen verzichten. Es ist leichter, Qat unters Volk zu bringen als Hilfsgüter. Es macht der Bevölkerung offenbar nichts aus, dass der Qat-Anbau die Hungersnot befördert, weil die Bauern lieber den pflegeleichten Strauch pflanzen als Obst oder Getreide.
Es stört die Leute offenbar nicht, dass der Verbrauch des ohnehin schon sehr knappen Grundwassers die Cholera-Epidemie begünstigt.
Versuche in der Vergangenheit, den Konsum einzudämmen, sollten sie überhaupt ernsthaft gewesen sein, haben keine Ergebnisse gezeitigt. Die Wasserverschwendung der Qat-Bauern wurde staatlich subventioniert, auch unter den Mächtigen im Jemen gibt es einige, die gut an dem Handel mit Qat verdienen.
Die Alltagsdroge ist fester Bestandteil des Krieges. Vor Offensiven werden die berauschenden Triebe an Soldaten verteilt.
http://www.faz.net/aktuell/gesellschaft/kriminalitaet/qat-die-droge-aus-dem-jemen-15389035.html
Mein Kommentar: Warum wird eigentlich von der FAZ ausgerechnet dieses Thema aufgegriffen und hier der mit derselben fragwürdigen Tendenz wie beim Artikel über Qat im Economist nun noch dasselbe auf Deutsch hinterhergeschickt?
(* B P)
Fiulm: Yemen's environment ministry objects UAE presence on Socotra islands
It's been nearly two years since the United Arab Emirates sent its forces to the Yemeni island of Socotra under a deal with Yemen's former government. The forces are now changing the island's ecology and depleting its natural resources. As Press TV's Mohamad al-Attab reports, Yemen's ministry of environment has objected to what's happening there.
(A P)
Iran Sees Grounds for Oman’s Role in Yemen Aid
Expressing concern about the security and health problems that have engulfed Yemen as a result of a Saudi-led military campaign, the Iranian president said morality dictates that the world should provide humanitarian assistance to the Yemeni people suffering from aerial bombardment and contagious diseases.
“Oman can become a center for international humanitarian aid for the people of Yemen, and it is greatly significant on historical, humanitarian and religious grounds,” he added.
https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2018/01/17/1630757/iran-sees-grounds-for-oman-s-role-in-yemen-aid
(* B H)
A Cry For Yemen
Atrocities should never be ignored.
Thanks to our Western bubbles and news media, almost no one knows anything about what is going on in Yemen. Most people simply do not care what happens to strangers’ half-way around the world. After all, they’re Muslim and living in the Middle East, didn’t they practically ask for terrorism to come knocking on their doors?
But we should care. Yemen is going through the worst humanitarian crises the world has seen in our lifetime.
The New York Times publishes the occasional article about Yemen, though I’m not sure if anyone actually reads those articles and is prompted to action. Yemen is never talked about on the news.
We in the West are selfish. You are frantically denying that right now, but you are. So am I.
https://www.theodysseyonline.com/cry-for-yemen
(* B H P)
Euro-Med: Expulsion and deportation of thousands of Yemenis by Saudi Arabia a human rights violation
Saudi Arabia's deportation of thousands of Yemenis residing illegally in the country as a result of either fleeing war or to seek job opportunities are deeply alarming, said the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor in a statement made today. “Saudi Arabia should not turn a blind eye to the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Yemen since the beginning of the conflict in 2015, to which Saudi Arabia is a main party," the nonprofit rights organization further stressed.
A two-month campaign aimed at modifying and amending Saudi employment conditions - particularly with regard to violating the regulations of residency, employment and border security - has resulted in the deportation of thousands of foreign workers, with punitive measures taken against some of them, said the Geneva-based Euro-Med Monitor.
Due to the injustices and the hardly livable conditions Yemenis have long been subjected to–especially in some areas controlled by the Houthi group— the term refugees may well apply to them, which makes it --under international law-- an obligation to grant them asylum and not deport them. International law also provides that expulsion and deportation in such a collective form is a violation of the principle of non-expulsion and may endanger their lives.
and added: A new twist: #Yemen citizens caught residing illegally in Saudi Arabia forcibly transferred to training camps to fight in border areas on behalf of the #Saudi army.
https://twitter.com/BaFana3/status/953677342060269569
and
(* B H P)
An international organization confirms the authenticity of what was published by the correspondent Net on the deportation of Saudi Arabia to hundreds of Yemeni residents to forced recruitment camps in Jizan
An international organization confirmed the authenticity of the information published last Saturday by the correspondent on Saudi Arabia's campaign to deport Yemenis living in its territory and forcing them to join special camps in Jizan in preparation to push them to the border to fight on behalf of its army.
The International Rights Observatory said it had received reports from Yemenis that the campaign launched by the Saudi authorities as a "homeland without a dissent" had also led to the arrest of dozens of them, forcibly transferred to recruitment camps to fight on the border fronts on behalf of the Saudi army.
"These allegations, if true, represent a serious violation of the provisions of international law and human rights through the forced recruitment of civilians," said Mireh Bechara, a legal researcher at the Euro-Mediterranean Observatory.
Informed sources confirmed to the correspondent that the Saudi authorities arrested hundreds of Yemeni expatriates and transferred them to special camps in Jizan, especially the camp of the crossbar of the Sixth Brigade Border Guards, which is the military leader loyal to Saudi Hussein Hassan al-Ghamri and oversees subjecting expatriates to compulsory combat courses in preparation for sending them to fight in Border fronts.
Saudi Arabia seeks to compensate hundreds of recruits recruited from the southern provinces of Yemen for training in Camp Bijazan to receive courses in the fight against terrorism to return to Aden to work in this area, but they were surprised to inform them that they will be sent to fight Houthis in the border, which prompted them to demonstrate and flee and subjected Some of whom were killed and arrested in an incident recognized by southern leaders.
http://www.almrasel.net/?p=27026 and translate https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=ar&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=de&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.almrasel.net%2F%3Fp%3D27026&edit-text=
(* B P)
UAE’s maneuvers throwing Middle East into chaos
With its staunchly secular vision for the Middle East, UAE has devised a foreign policy strategy independent from Saudi Arabia
The UAE views Yemen as another crucial theater to implement its foreign policy vision, because it regards the Yemen conflict as a three-way struggle for supremacy between secular forces, Sunni militants and Iran-backed Houthi rebels. This perception of the Yemen conflict differs markedly from Saudi Arabia’s perspective of the Yemen war as a geopolitical struggle between the GCC and Iran. The contrast between the Saudi and Emirati perspectives of the Yemen war has caused Abu Dhabi to conduct unilateral military and diplomatic missions aimed at strengthening secular forces against their Islamist foes.
Since Saleh’s death, the UAE has attempted to unite Yemen around a secular nationalist coalition led by the country’s internationally recognized President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi.
To increase Abu Dhabi’s influence over conditions in Yemen and facilitate the return of secular authoritarian rule to Yemen, the UAE has used military force to carve out enclaves of territorial influence in Yemen. The UAE’s strong ties to south Yemeni nationalist movements and rapidly strengthening presence in Yemen’s oil-rich Hadhramaut region gives it an independent power projection base in Yemen, as Saudi Arabia predominantly carries out airstrikes on Yemen’s northern borders. The UAE’s enclave creation strategy has advanced its strategic objectives, because Emirati ground forces are able to provide direct logistical support for secular nationalist forces in Yemen and conduct targeted strikes against al-Islah and Houthi militants with greater precision than Riyadh’s air campaign would allow.
In addition to launching military strikes, the UAE has used diplomacy to convince Yemeni Islamists to accept a political settlement – by Samuel Ramani
http://aa.com.tr/en/analysis-news/uae-s-maneuvers-throwing-middle-east-into-chaos/1033327 = http://en.brinkwire.com/100651/uaes-maneuvers-throwing-middle-east-into-chaos/
My comment: This sounds like a propaganda article in favor of the UAE. – Hadi as representing Yemen’s secular forces. Whow. – And the UAE is less backing him than supporting his rivals.
(* B K)
Last year we shared these figures. They seemed haunting.
Now Unicef has provided new figures: 3 times higher.
The '46 of unknown sex', yes, still haunt us. (image)
https://www.facebook.com/LivingInYemenOnTheEdge/posts/1619224484797242
My comment: All these figures are too low. They do not take into account the unreported cases – and all those who had died due to consequences of the Saudi blockade (being much more than those killed by the war).
cp2a Saudische Blockade / Saudi blockade
(A H P)
Port of Hodeidah
Vessels in Port: 2
Expected Vessels: 3(T-AIS)
Sailed Vessels: 16
https://www.vesseltracker.com/en/Port/hodeidah/Dashboard.html
(* B H P)
YEMEN
Saudi Arabia eased its blockade on Yemen 30 days ago, but the crisis is still getting worse
Thirty days after Saudi Arabia eased its crippling blockade on Yemen, humanitarian aid groups say only a sliver of critical fuel and commercial goods are getting through.
The month-long easement was meant to allow fuel, food and aid into the country, but Oxfam says just 18 percent of Yemen's monthly fuel needs have been met. On the food front, things look somewhat better, with a little more than half of the country's monthly needs being met. But aid officials worry the coalition could reintroduce the blockade at any moment and further exacerbate the humanitarian crisis still gripping the country.
“To sum it up, it’s as if the [Saudi-led] coalition, due to partly pressure from the U.S., has pressed the pause button on a horror movie, and that tomorrow we’re going to learn that they’re going to press play again,” Scott Paul, Humanitarian Policy Lead for Oxfam America told VICE News.
Paul said humanitarian organizations have been in close communication with the Trump administration and that they’ve seen a “really consistent, sustained effort” to put pressure on the Saudi-coalition to allow goods to continue entering the country – by Alexa Liautaud
(* A H P)
Norwegian Refugee Council: It’s one step forward, two steps back for the humanitarian crisis in #Yemen. As a one-month easing of the blockade ends, it seems a new one is being imposed and millions of people will again be left without food and medicine.
https://twitter.com/NRC_Norway/status/954344819605889024
Nothing but silence on #Yemen. 30 days without communication from the Saudi-led Coalition about whether food and fuel will be allowed in through Hodeida port beyond today and nine months of silence from the UN Security Council on an unspeakable humanitarian crisis.
https://twitter.com/NRC_Norway/status/954377964447203328
(* A H P)
Yemen - Humanitarian Imports Overview, December 2017
On 20 December, the Saudi-led coalition announced to keep Yemen’s main Hodeidah port open for a month for both humanitarian & commercial cargo, including fuel. Shortly after this announcement, two commercial tankers carrying some 39,000 mt of fuel were cleared to access Hodeidah.
However, no commercial container vessel has been granted EHOC clearance to call Hodeidah port. Therefore, all WFP containerized cargo allocated for Hodeidah had to be diverted to Aden ( around 1,400 container loaded with some 21,000 MT of food commodities).
The Logistics Cluster facilitates combined chartered airlifts from Djibouti to Sana’a, on a frequency contingent on needs and funding.
Due to a period of instability in Sana’a, the airlifts scheduled at the beginning of December had to be put on hold. As the airport reopened in the second half of the month, the Logistics Cluster facilitated five rotations between 17 and 23 December from Djibouti to Sana’a, carrying some 86 mt / 414 m3 of relief items on behalf of IMC, WHO, MSF, IOM, MDM and WFP.
https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/yemen-humanitarian-imports-overview-december-2017 and in full: http://www.logcluster.org/document/yemen-humanitarian-imports-overview-december-2017 = https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/yemen_imports_overview_dec_2017.pdf
My comment: “no commercial container vessel has been granted EHOC clearance to call Hodeidah port”: Let it sack.
(A H P)
UN: Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, 19 January 2018
I’d been asked in recent days for an update on the humanitarian situation in Yemen, and I can tell you that we are talking to the Coalition on the importance of keeping all ports open for all cargo. All ports in Yemen should remain open in order to facilitate the rapid entry and distribution of humanitarian and commercial imports across the country.
Keeping those ports open is particularly important, as recent analysis by humanitarian partners indicates growing humanitarian needs among the population.
(* B H P)
Because of the ban on Sanaa airport: the death of Yemen's patients before they arrive at Sayoun airport to travel abroad
The General Authority of Civil Aviation confirmed the death of many critical cases on the way to Sayoun and Aden airports for the purpose of traveling abroad for treatment due to the continued closure of Sanaa International Airport.
"One out of every 10 critical cases died on the way to Sayoun and Aden airports for the purpose of traveling abroad for treatment due to distance, travel difficulties, unstable security conditions on the road, and not allowing some to enter," the agency's spokesman, Mazen Ghanem, was quoted as saying. Governorates ".
He added that the continuation of the Sanaa airport ban by the coalition represents a collective punishment for the Yemeni people, especially that the flights are purely humanitarian, and turned Yemen into a large prison and created an unspeakable humanitarian tragedy.
He explained that the number of cases of deaths of patients who were in urgent need to travel by air for treatment abroad, as well as victims who call for the transfer abroad for treatment, amounted to 15 thousand and 740 deaths due to the continued closure of Sanaa airport.
Ghanem pointed out that the reports of the Ministry of Health indicate that there are about 95 thousand cases in urgent need to travel abroad for treatment, especially cancer patients and kidney failure, heart and liver and other incurable diseases .. noting that 50,000 stranded abroad could not return home.
http://www.almrasel.net/?p=27065 and translated https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=ar&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=de&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.almrasel.net%2F%3Fp%3D27065&edit-text=
(* B H P)
Mass starvation as a political weapon
de Waal, who is the executive director of the World Peace Foundation and a research professor at the Fletcher School. For his book, he compiled the best available estimates of global famine deaths from 1870 to 2010, and used that data to analyze trends. Tufts Now sat down with him recently to find out what he learned.
De Waal: Famine is a very specific political product of the way in which societies are run, wars are fought, governments are managed. The single overwhelming element in causation—in three-quarters of the famines and three-quarters of the famine deaths—is political agency. Yet we still tend to be gripped by this idea that famine is a natural calamity.
You can actually show that the population theory of famine is wrong.
Yemen is the greatest famine atrocity of our lifetimes. The Saudis are deliberately destroying the country's food-producing infrastructure.
The United States and the European countries, if they cared about it enough, have enough leverage to get the Saudis and the Emeratis to stop bombing agricultural, health, and market infrastructure, open the ports, and have a much less restrictive definition about what food is allowed in. They also need to start a peace process. This is not a war that is going to be won in any meaningful sense. It's a political, created famine and it will have to be solved by political, created means. One can ameliorate the impact by enabling a humanitarian response, which would save many lives, and allowing the economy to regenerate a bit, but a proper solution has to be a political one.
https://phys.org/news/2018-01-mass-starvation-political-weapon.html#jCp
(* A H P)
Film (Arabic), by Norwegian refugee Council: Our office manager says in Yemen # @Mutasim_Hamdan: "What looked on paper it would be a good policy to ease the siege # has done very little to cut the prices of basic daily items such as fuel and food"
https://twitter.com/NRC_Arabic/status/954008939334651905
(* A H P)
Film (Arabic): The continuation of the Saudi-American aggression in its siege of the Yemeni people is causing tragic consequences, as in Hodeidah when roaming in its neighborhoods do not know which neighborhoods suffer from the most severe poverty
https://www.facebook.com/Hona.Almasirah/videos/1778722765492113/ = https://twitter.com/Hona_Almasirah/status/954139273518813184
(* A H P)
Film: The War in Yemen: Saudi-led coalition Yemen blockade to resume
On Friday, the Saudi-led coalition is expected to re-impose its blockade on Yemen. And if it does, it'll cut off millions of people from aid and supplies that could save them from famine. It'll also mean the end of medical support that's needed to fend off life-threatening disease. As Rahul Radhakrishnan reports, aid agencies are hoping for an extension.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyd8uiNH2rA
(* A H P)
No clear path ahead for Yemen aid as 30-day lift of blockade expires
A temporary lifting of a blockade at one of Yemen’s most critical ports will end this week, pushing Yemen’s deteriorating humanitarian situation into an even more critical, uncertain state, the Norwegian Refugee Council told Devex this week.
More than 7 million people in Yemen — almost one-fourth of the country — are now entirely dependent on aid. But recent temporary blockades of the key Hudaydah Port have presented major operational challenges for aid groups working to deliver emergency services.
Now, a 30-day period that eased this temporary commercial blockade over Hudaydah Port will expire on Jan. 19, without a clear resolution in sight.
“What looked on paper to be a good policy for easing the blockade has done very little to lower prices of essential daily items like fuel and food,” said Norwegian Refugee Council country director in Yemen, Mutasim Hamdan, in a media release. “The instability caused by the coalition’s arbitrary policies, closing ports one day and reopening them on another, is making problems worse for the Yemeni population. Shipping companies, importers, and vendors are left without assurance that the port will remain open, and this is serving to sustain inflation that makes food unaffordable for most Yemeni people.”
(* B H P)
Yemen still starved of food and fuel after month-long suspension of blockade
Despite last month’s temporary lifting of the Saudi led-coalition blockade of Yemen’s northern ports, in the past three and a half weeks only 18 per cent of the country’s monthly fuel needs and just over half its monthly food needs have been imported through these ports, Oxfam said today.
These ports provide most of the goods the country needs to import with 80 per cent of all goods coming through Hodeida, one of the northern ports. Ninety per cent of the country’s food has to be imported. The arrival of much-needed new cranes in Hodeida is very welcome and crucial to speeding up supplies through the port. But the continued restrictions of vital supplies further endangers the 8.4 million people living on the brink of famine.
Oxfam warned of a catastrophic deterioration in what is already the world’s worst humanitarian crisis and the site of the largest cholera outbreak on record. The organization said that the lives of 22 million people in need of aid will continue to deteriorate if there is not a significant rise in the imports of the vital food, fuel and medicine. On the 19 January the blockade will have been lifted for a month and Oxfam is calling for all ports to remain open to the uninterrupted flow of commercial and humanitarian goods.
Shane Stevenson, Oxfam’s Country Drector in Yemen, said: “The wanton disregard on all sides of this conflict for the lives of ordinary families struggling to cope after more than a 1,000 days of war is nothing short of an international scandal. This is a war waged with 21st century hi-tech weapons, but the tactic of starvation is from the Dark Ages. The international community must come together and take a stand against barbarism."
While the blockade has been temporarily lifted, 190,000 tonnes of food arrived at the main northern ports between 20 December and 15 January, compared with the estimated monthly food needs of 350,000 tonnes, according to the UN, shipping agencies and port authorities. Fuel imports over the same period were 97,000 tonnes compared with an estimated monthly fuel needs of 544,000 tonnes.
Fuel tankers and bulk cargo vessels of grain have docked but no container vessels have arrived, meaning that foods essential for survival, such as edible oil, have not entered the ports for some time.
(* A H P)
WFP: Film: 2.5 years of conflict have pushed #Yemen to the brink of famine, resulting in the world’s largest hunger crisis. On Monday, 4 cranes arrived in Hodeidah Port. These cranes will allow for faster delivery of urgently needed humanitarian supplies.
https://twitter.com/WFP/status/954306228745797632
(* A H P)
Four US-funded mobile cranes to Hodeidah port give rise to a fuss as if it will save millions of people in #Yemen. Compare the size of the 5 devastating CRANES - the 4 mobile cranes "winch". Thank you, but the least U.S can do to save millions of Yemenis is to lift the blockade
https://twitter.com/HussamSanabani/status/954064897213714432
My comment: Simply compare these new toy cranes to the ruins of the old ones still standing at the place, bombed by an US ally with US bombs and US jets and US political support.
Comment: The U.S. with its cranes is acting as a one who put a flower on the grave of someone who been assassinated by U.S.
https://twitter.com/mechael1717/status/954192462804733952
cp3 Humanitäre Lage / Humanitarian situation
(A H)
I know a women from #Syria lives in #Sanaa #Yemen ,she is making the best sweets & sell them 2 groceries. Yesterday I saw her asking 4 money in the street with her kids,I was so shocked,I asked her what happened?she said"ppl r without salaries,so they r not buying my sweets"
https://twitter.com/AhmadAlgohbary/status/954871299523907585
(A H)
Qatar Charity launches urgent relief campaign for Yemen
Qatar Charity (QC) has launched an urgent relief campaign for the affected people of Yemen because of the worsening humanitarian situation, in the name of "urgent relief for Yemen".
(* B H)
Film: The wells are empty in #Yemen. 15.7 million Yemenis lack access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation services. To date, since December, @ICRC_ye distributed more than 6 million liters of water to 33’000 families in Sana’a’s most affected neighborhoods.
https://twitter.com/icrc_ye/status/954657421007335424
(* B H K)
Film: Gefährliches Jemen: Eine Schule mitten im Minenfeld
Abdul Ghani Alhaydari ist Direktor an einer Schule in Taiz. Das Außergewöhnliche an seiner Position? Der sechsfache Vater unterrichtet an einer Schule, die umgeben ist von Minen. Seit 2015 herrscht Bürgerkrieg in dem Land.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkelKeKHZ_0 = https://www.ffh.de/video/meController/Mediathek/meAction/index/meTopic/gefaehrliches-jemen-eine-schule-mitten-im-minenfeld.html = https://www.aol.de/video/gef-hrliches-jemen-eine-schule-mitten-im-minenfeld-5a61fe6d44a64b3fe25f6a43/
(* B H)
Film: CARE im Jemen: Einsatz unter Lebensgefahr
Nur noch wenige Hilfsorganisationen sind im Jemen aktiv. CARE-Helferin Hind Abbas berichtet, wie gefährlich dies ist.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CwgcaCaM5A
(B H)
Five ways cash is transforming crisis response for the better
Over recent years, the scale-up of cash assistance in crisis response has changed the way humanitarians operate. Cash supports local markets and economic regeneration, empowers recipients and enables them to prioritize their needs. Cash can be faster and cheaper to deliver.
http://www.unocha.org/story/five-ways-cash-transforming-crisis-response-better
(A H)
'Inside the incubators where more than one child is sleeping in one incubator. There is a real lack of incubators .. ' (photo)
My comment: Remind the 1990 Kuwait incubator scam. For Yemen, the US does not care.
(A H)
From Human Needs Development - HND NGO in #Sanaa:
'54" food packs were distributed to the most vulnerable families in the capital of Yemen, Sana'a. (photos)
https://www.facebook.com/HNDngoYE/posts/954935644657903 = https://www.facebook.com/LivingInYemenOnTheEdge/posts/1621065731279784
Donate: https://www.generosity.com/emergencies-fundraising/save-a-family-in-yemen
(A H)
Turkish aid agency supports war-torn families in Yemen
IHH delivers food, including flour, sugar and rice
has delivered food to 3,724 families since late December in various cities including the capital Sana’a as part of an emergency aid program
http://aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/turkish-aid-agency-supports-war-torn-families-in-yemen/1036084
(* B H)
Film: "... but I DIDN’T LOSE HOPE", the heartbreaking story of young young Emad
https://twitter.com/UNICEF_Yemen/status/953966913163493381
(* A H)
WHO airlifts 200 tonnes of health supplies to Yemen
The World Health Organization has delivered 200 tonnes of life-saving medicines and health supplies to Yemen. Four United Nations planes carrying the cargo landed in Sana'a Airport this week.
The shipments include essential medicines, insulin vials, antibiotics, rabies vaccines, intravenous (IV) fluids, and other medical supplies and equipment.
https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/who-airlifts-200-tonnes-health-supplies-yemen
(* B H)
Monareliefye.org delivers hygiene kits to kidney failure patients at al-Thawra Hospital in Sanaa
Mona Relief today visited Sanaa kidney dialysis center & delivered hygiene kits. It is one of 28 dialysis centers struggling to continue open across Yemen bcz of lack of supplies & operational costs. Patients with chronic diseases are among most vulnerable ppl in war-torn #Yemen
66 kidney failure patients wait for their turns to be treated at Sanaa dialysis centre everyday. There are 21.000 kidney failure patients #Yemen. Before war, they used to go to dialysis centers three times a week. Now they go once a week and many wait for hours for their turns.
The project was funded by IOM Yemen. (photos)
and at twitter:
https://twitter.com/Fatikr/status/954011564876722176
https://twitter.com/Fatikr/status/954032263687262209
(* B H)
"Was hier passiert, ist ein Albtraum"
Gewalt, Vertreibung, Krankheiten, Unterernährung und kaum Zugang zu medizinischer Hilfe und Bildung. Die Kinder im Bürgerkriegsland Jemen leben unter katastrophalen Bedingungen.
Für das, was sich derzeit im Jemen abspielt, gibt es wohl keine Worte, die das Elend treffend beschreiben würden. Vielleicht Zahlen: 25.000 Babys würden pro Jahr nach der Geburt oder in den ersten Lebensmonaten sterben, sagt Mertixell Relano, zuständig für den Jemen beim UN-Kinderhilfswerk UNICEF. "Viele Kinder gehen hungrig zu Bett und aktuell haben wir anderthalb Millionen Kinder im Land, die unterernährt sind."
Im Jemen herrscht eine akute Hungersnot. Hunderttausende sind vom Tod bedroht. Fast 80 Prozent der 28 Millionen Einwohner Jemens brauchen Hilfe.
Es sei eindeutig, dass im Jemen die größte Hungerkrise weltweit herrsche, sagt Bettina Lüscher vom Welternährungsprogramm. "Es ist tatsächlich die schlimmste Krise, die wir derzeit auf der Welt haben. Und es ist sehr schwer, damit umzugehen. Wir haben 8,4 Millionen Menschen, die komplett abhängig sind von Lebensmittelhilfen, viele unterernährte Kinder und mehr als eine Million unterernährte Schwangere und stillende Mütter."
https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/jemen-hunger-kinder-101.html und Audio: http://www.gk-edv-dienstleistungen.de/multimedia/audio/audio-51347.html und auch http://www.bento.de/politik/jemen-hunderttausende-kinder-von-hungertod-bedroht-2029273/
(* B H)
UNFPA Response in Yemen: Monthly Situation Report #12 - December 2017
The 2018 Humanitarian Needs Overview for Yemen released in December reveals that needs across Yemen remain overwhelming: an estimated 22.2 million people need some kind of humanitarian or protection assistance, including 11.3 million who are in acute need - an increase of more than one million people since June 2017. Some 8.4 million are one step away from starvation. These figures do not include additional needs that might have been created by the three-week blockade on imports of humanitarian and commercial goods into Yemen as well as the most recent escalation of hostilities in Sana’a.
At the end of the year, UNFPA's response in Yemen has reached over 2.5 million people with reproductive health and gender-based violence services and information
https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/unfpa-response-yemen-monthly-situation-report-12-december-2017
(* B H)
Social Fund for Development, Yemen
The Social Fund for Development (SFD) was established by Law No. 10 of 1997 to contribute to achieve, and align its programs with, goals of the national social and economic development plans for poverty reduction (DPPRs). It has implemented three phases of operations and by, 2011, commenced phase IV.SFD supports development opportunities through improving access to basic services, enhancing economic opportunities and reducing the vulnerability of the poor as well as building capacities at national levels including local authorities and community structures. To reach these objectives, SFD applies the best international and local practices and policies and piloted approaches to share its experiences with all other development players.
(A H)
We are continuing to distribute food in war torn #Yemen with our local partners @monareliefye ! (photo)
https://twitter.com/Khalsa_Aid/status/953558908337082368
@monareliefye continues the distribution of school bags (photos)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/monareliefyemen/37838289481/in/photostream/ v
(* A H)
OCHA: Yemen, key concerns.
https://www.ochayemen.org/hpc/hno-key-concerns
OCHA; Yemen crisis timeline
https://www.ochayemen.org/hpc/hno-crisis-timeline
OCHA, Yemen, Overall needs
https://www.ochayemen.org/hpc/hno-overall-severity-needs-maps
OCHA; Yemen, cluster dashboards
https://www.ochayemen.org/hpc/hno-sectors-information
OCHA: Yemen, thematic dashboards
https://www.ochayemen.org/hpc/hno-thematic-dashboards
OCHA, Yemen: resources
https://www.ochayemen.org/hpc/hno-resources
(* A H)
HELP US SAVE THE YEMENI FUND FOR THE CARE AND REHABILITATION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
A number of public and private hospitals in the capital Sana'a have stopped providing health services to persons with disabilities following the suspension of the account of the Fund for the Care and Rehabilitation of the Disabled @yehwrf in the Central Bank of Yemen by the Ministry of Finance.
The health facilities the Fund is dealing with sent official letters to the leadership of the Fund to claim the payment of previous dues, and a notice confirming they will stop the provision of health services for persons with disabilities after the suspension of Fund’s bank account.
A number of physiotherapy centers have followed similar steps. The pharmacies with which the Fund deals and the drug stores have failed to provide medicines and aids to people with disabilities.
An official source in the health care department of the Fund announced the death of a child in a hospital in the capital after the Fund was unable to provide a fluid suction apparatus. He accused the agency that stopped the fund account with the central bank of the catastrophic consequences this decision which will cause. The halting for provision of services is like a death sentence for the tens of thousands of persons with disabilities who have virtually no access to health, education, rehabilitation services.
Remark: At Sanaa, the Sanaa government is concerned.
(* B H)
Film: Yemen famine: Inside the country’s only hospital treating malnutrition (Warning: Disturbing images)
https://www.facebook.com/StopTheWarOnYemen/videos/vb.319595141544022/797926617044203/?type=2&theater
(* B H)
Yemen: Lack of medicine threatens thousands of patients, especially diabetics
The Yemeni pharmaceutical market suffers from a severe shortage of important and life-saving treatments with a lack of some of them, without any real efforts by those involved.
The current crisis as a result of the war in the country has caused the disappearance of two important drugs and the double-digit prices of those available. In the forefront of treatments that are missing, we mention drugs on tumors, heart and anesthesia and those of kidney diseases and mental and neurological diseases and others.
Doctors prescribe medicines for their patients. The search of these patients starts in pharmacies, to no avail, which has led many to abandon their treatments, causing serious health problems.
Double prices:
Insulin delivery has become very difficult for Ammar, a 50-year-old diabetes patient. The drug is almost non-existent and, if available, is sold at twice the cost in pharmacies.
The crisis of the citizen:
The decline in sources of income and wage cuts amid rising prices and the decline or lack of medical services have affected millions of Yemenis and doubled their suffering and their health problems into a nightmare. Sahar Mohammed, 28, of "The New Arab", the mother of two children suffering from epilepsy, is suffering from an interruption in medication. "My husband's inability to purchase the treatment I am using has caused my health to deteriorate. I am afraid of going out of the house so that I do not have an epileptic seizure in the street and I lose consciousness and I can not find anyone to take me to the hospital."
Pharmaceutical companies complain:
Pharmaceutical companies complain of the disappearance of important medicines for the lives of patients due to delayed shipment, which forces traders to bear the cost of doubling, which limits the import. "Customs taxes double the amount of drugs transported through the port of Aden and the land deposit," says a Sana'a pharmaceutical company employee
The Ministry of Health is powerless:
A private source in the Ministry of Public Health and Population under the control of the Houthis
http://www.sahafah24.net/show1270059.html and translation https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=de&sl=ar&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sahafah24.net%2Fshow1270059.html
(* B H)
Film: Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen
Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen | More than 13600 Yemeni killed since 2015 | Saudi War | Yemen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CY4Sli8LtLI
(* A H)
Film: ‘Entire generation of children in Yemen’ know nothing but violence: UN
UNICEF, #Yemen, press conference of January 16 2018
https://www.facebook.com/LivingInYemenOnTheEdge/videos/1619188751467482/
(* B H)
ECHO Factsheet – Yemen – January 2018
22.2 million people (80% of population) in need of humanitarian assistance, of which, 11.3 million people in acute need
Over 3 million internally displaced (of which 0.9 million returnees)
17.8 million people food insecure
16.4 million people in need of basic health care
16 million people lack access to safe water and sanitation
https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/echo-factsheet-yemen-january-2018
(B H)
Yemen Conflict - Emergency Telecommunications Cluster https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/yemen-conflict-etc-situation-report-20-reporting-period-06112017-05012018ETC Situation Report #20 (Reporting Period: 06/11/2017 to 05/01/2018)
cp4 Flüchtlinge / Refugees
(* B H)
Jemen: Neue Kämpfe, Vertreibung und Not
In den letzten zwei Monaten haben neue Kämpfe im Jemen mehr als 32.000 Jemeniten zur Flucht aus ihren Dörfern gezwungen. Insgesamt leben im Jemen mehr als zwei Millionen Binnenvertriebene, die den Winter mit Temperaturen, die unter den Null fallen können, in Zelten und Hütten verbringen müssen.
“Mit der zunehmenden Gewalt im Jemen müssen wir nicht nur die neuen Vertriebenen versorgen, darunter immer mehr Familien, die fliehen – aber wir müssen auch auf die langanhaltende Vertreibung reagieren. Jeden Tag, den der Krieg anhält, bedeutet für diejenigen, die nicht zuhause sein können, ein weiterer Tag vertrieben zu sein”, sagt der UNHCR-Repräsentant Ayman Gharaibeh.
Seit Beginn des Konfliktes im Jemen im März 2015 unterstützt das UN-Flüchtlingshilfswerk (UNHCR) Binnenvertriebene und Flüchtlinge im Jemen. Mehr als eine Million Frauen, Männer und Kinder, die vor der Gewalt fliehen mussten sind mit Hilfsgütern wie Matratzen, Decken, Schlafmatten, Küchensets und Eimern versorgt worden.
Im vergangenen Monat haben mehr als 18.000 binnenvertriebene Familien (etwa 130.000 Menschen) im Jemen einen finanziellen Zuschuss bekommen, um über die kommenden kalten Monte zu kommen.
https://www.uno-fluechtlingshilfe.de/news/jemen-neue-kaempfe-vertreibung-und-not-714.html
(* B H)
More than 32,000 Yemenis displaced in two months: UN
Intensified hostilities in Yemen have forced more than 32,000 people to flee their homes in the past two months, the United Nations refugee agency has said.
They join some two million Yemenis already displaced by the war, the UNHCR said in a statement on Thursday.
"The arrival of winter in Yemen, when temperatures can dip below zero degrees Celsius across a number of governorates, has worsened the hardship for many, particularly those displaced and living in informal settlements exposed to the elements with little protection against the cold," it said.
UNHCR spokeswoman Shabia Mantoo said flare-ups in fighting in the rebel-held capital Sanaa, as well as the provinces of Hodeida on the Red Sea and oil-rich Shabwa in the south, had driven the displacements.
"We continue to see correlations between intensified hostilities and civilian casualties + displacement," Mantoo said on Twitter Friday.
(* B H)
Yemenis displaced by fresh violence face bleak winter
“With hostilities intensifying in Yemen, we’re not only having to respond to new displacement with more and more families continuing to flee, but we’re also having to respond to prolonged displacement. Each day the war extends means another day away from home for those already displaced,” said Ayman Gharaibeh, UNHCR’s Representative in Yemen.
Of the two million Yemenis who remain displaced, almost 90 per cent have been living away from home for more than a year, depleting their resources and those of the local communities that host them as the country teeters on the brink of famine.
The arrival of winter in Yemen, when temperatures can dip below zero degrees Celsius across a number of governorates, has worsened the hardship for many, particularly those displaced and living in informal settlements exposed to the elements with little protection against the cold.
Since the beginning of the conflict, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has been providing emergency assistance and protection services to vulnerable Yemenis on the ground.
http://www.unhcr.org/5a6059fb4.html = https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/yemenis-displaced-fresh-violence-face-bleak-winter
(B H)
Somalis Fleeing Yemen Conflict Supported to Scale-Up Fishing Ventures
With the ongoing conflict in Yemen, Somalis are returning home by the hundreds. To assist returning Somalis to better reintegrate and to promote peaceful coexistence between the returnees and their host communities, IOM, the UN Migration Agency donated fishing equipment and boats to local fishing cooperatives in Mogadishu.
https://micicinitiative.iom.int/news/somalis-fleeing-yemen-conflict-supported-scale-fishing-ventures
cp5 Nordjemen und Huthis / Northern Yemen and Houthis
(A P)
Houthis recruiting holy warriors through mosques
The Houthis are trying to recruit holy warriors against the government through the Sana'a mosques, local sources said.
The sources in the capital said that mosque preachers, upon the orders of the Shiit Islamist group, are now inviting people to come to military camps to train for Jihad.
https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-14773
Remark: By anti-Houthi media of Islah Party.
(A P)
President meets with Speaker of Parliament
The meeting discussed the parliament’s plans and programs during 2018 and its legislative functions in accordance with the regulations as well as the roles entrusted to the presidency of the parliament.
The meeting also dealt with the national roles of parliamentarians during the current stage and their efforts to strengthen cohesion, stand united against the aggression and provide fronts with men, money and gear to defend the country's sovereignty, unity, security and stability.
The president emphasized the important roles of the parliament’s presidency, committees and parliamentary blocs representatives in inspecting citizens’ conditions and needs in the constituencies.
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news485307.htm
My comment: The parliament still is the most legitimate political body in Yemen. In the past, it had assembled at Sanaa, it had confirmed the Houthi/Saleh government at Sanaa, thus giving legitimacy to it. Now, after the break of the Houthi/Saleh alliance, the Sanaa parliament certainly no more will meet the quorum which is required by the constitution, as most MPs are members of Saleh’s GPC party. Many of them either will have been disappeared, have been killed in the Sanaa December fightings, have been arrested or have fled to territories of the Hadi government. The Hadi government had tried to get the parliament now for its side – but with the MPs now available for meetings supporting Hadi, they also certainly never will meet the quorum.
(A P)
Schism emerges within Houthis' ranks in Aljawf
Local sources have confirmed the emergency of schism in the ranks of the Houthi rebel militia in Almasloob district in Al-Jawf, as differences began between the militia's top leaders there.
The new differences led to the withdrawal of some leaders from the frontlines against the government force
https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-14765
Remark: By anti-Houthi media of Islah Party.
(* A P T)
Officials say UN migration agency employee abducted in Yemen
Yemeni security officials say unidentified gunmen have abducted an employee at the U.N. migration agency in the capital, Sanaa.
The officials said late Friday that Hisham Abdel-Rahman Bagash was abducted a day earlier when a masked man led him out of his car and threatened him with a gun.
Bagash's father, Abdel-Rahman, said in a Facebook post that his son was accompanied by his wife at the time of the abduction but the kidnappers only took him. His whereabouts are unknown.
and Saudi propaganda uses this for anti-Houthi-propaganda, citing „Yemeni activists“ (what please is this?):
Yemen’s Houthis Accused of Kidnapping UN Employee in Sanaa
Yemeni activists accused Houthi militias of kidnapping a United Nations agency employee in Sanaa as part of its ongoing suppression of its opponents.
Bjash did not hold anyone responsible for the abduction, saying that he “so far does not know where his son is.”
and once this is claimed, Emirati media simply take it as fact:
The rebels also abducted a Yemeni employee of the International Organisation for Migration on Thursday, the agency's media officer said.
Hisham Abdulrahman Bagash, an IT engineer, was kidnapped while driving home with his wife on Thursday afternoon, SadeqAl Mualimy told The National.
Mr Bagash is the son of well known Yemeni journalist Abdulrahman Bagash, who wrote on Facebook that two masked gunmen blocked off his son's car with theirs, dragged him out and and drove away with him.
https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/houthi-rebels-accused-of-kidnapping-rape-and-murder-1.697102
(A P)
Clashes between tribal gunmen and Houthis northern Sana'a
On Wednesday night, The Houthi gunmen attacked a house in the Dharwan area of Hamdan district, northern the capital Sana'a, fighting with tribesmen in the area, a local source said.
The Houthis, led by the Department supervisor Abu Ali and Abu Ali Yahya Hilali, surrounded the house of one of Darwan people and shot at him, the source told Almasdaronline.
The source pointed out that the incident led to clashes weapons between tribesmen and the Houthis gunmen using light and medium, which resulted in the retreat of the Houthis from the village, after they kidnapped two civilians.
The source attributed the cause of the attack on the house and the outbreak of confrontations, to a dispute over a land ownership controlled by the Houthis in the Dharwan market on the road to Sanaa -Amran days ago.
http://almasdaronline.com/article/96605 and also https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-14767
(B K P)
By anti-Houthi propagandists: Photos of killed Houthi fighters’ cemetery and mockery about Houthi recruitment efforts (all tweets with photos)
https://twitter.com/YemenForEver12/status/954113516436377600
https://twitter.com/Dhamar_yemen/status/954089095403360263
Al-Huthi's militias in Dhamar face a major failure to attract new fighters into their ranks to compensate for the acute human shortage on the front lines of their war against Yemenis. Their false nationalistic slogans and sectarian religious claims have become a mockery of citizens and their methods of intimidation and extortion have been rejected by parents and tribes.
https://twitter.com/Dhamar_yemen/status/954085230700318721
(A K P)
Go Fight Heavy and Light! Under this holy slogan,Yemen ministry of defense is working on the greatest process of voluntary recruitment over history From all over Yemen,people (aged btwn18-40) join training camps daily.To fight US-Saudi invaders. Pic. Khawlan eastern Sanaa, Jan19 (photos)
https://twitter.com/narrabyee/status/954345139161456645
(* A K P)
Houthi militants have begun compulsory military service for Yemeni young people and recruiting female militants. We have a problem here: a Houthi leader appeared on TV lately threatening "those who don't want to go to frontline would be taken forcibly and used as earthworks".
https://twitter.com/fuadrajeh/status/953544679496339456
(A K P)
Houthi militia deploy new children to warfronts
The Houthi rebel militia has deployed a group of newly recruited children from their homes to the different fronts for fighting the government, sources in the capital Sana'a said.
Militiamen collected the children who were recruited from schools using the stick and carrot approach to their parents to allow them join the Shiit Islamists' "holy war", the sources told Yemen News Gate (YNG) on Monday.
https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-14669 and also https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-14671
(A P)
Houthis add call for holy war to the prayer call
The Houthis have reportedly introduced the call for holy war "Jihad" into the formal Islamic call for prayer "Adhan" in the mosques of the capital Sana'a which they control.
https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-14670
(A K P)
Film (Arabic): A leader of the Houthi militia, backed by the Iranian regime, calls for compulsory recruitment of jobs and schools and the use of those who do not wish to join them as "barricades" or human shields.
https://twitter.com/DOTArabic/status/953691616891604993
(A K P)
'Great Surprise': General Says Turning Point in Yemen Conflict is Close at Hand
The armed forces of the Houthi-controlled government in the Yemeni capital Sana’a have boosted their air defenses to a point where they no longer need to fear airstrikes by Saudi-led coalition forces, army spokesman Sharaf Luqman said, in an interview with Sputnik.
Brigadier-General Luqman said that the army now has all it needs to repel “enemy aggression” at sea, on the ground and in the air.
“The Yemeni army has taken over many enemy strongholds, which has changed the situation on the battlefield,” the general said.
He said that in the next few days, the Sana’a army would “greatly surprise” coalition forces.
https://sputniknews.com/military/201801201060914676-yemen-general-interview/
My comment: This does not sound very realistic.
(A T)
Film: The thus far mysterious anti-Houthi Sanaa Sniper team active in #Yemen capital Sanaa issues 1st video. Serious hardware.
https://twitter.com/BaFana3/status/953607009131286529
cp6 Südjemen und Hadi-Regierung / Southern Yemen and Hadi-government
Siehe / Look cp1 (prisons, torture)
(A P)
Islah official calls for national unity to counter Houthi militia
https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-14774
(A T)
IED found planted near the home of Mansoura #Aden district manager Mohammed Al-Bari dismantled by security forces on Jan 19 (photo)
https://twitter.com/demolinari/status/954673905154760704
(* A P)
Security Belt Support Brigades inaugurated the training year with a military parade at Martyr Iyad bin Suhail camp (Al-Jalaa) in #Aden. (photos)
Security Belt Support Brigades inaugurated the training year with a military parade at Martyr Iyad bin Suhail camp (Al-Jalaa) in #Aden. (photo)
https://twitter.com/demolinari/status/954680912393814017
https://twitter.com/demolinari/status/954661749344501760
My comment: “Security Belt” militia is supported by the UASE. And they pose with the Southern Yemeni flag. Bye, bye, Hadi.
(A)
Work underway to remove cars destroyed during the war from the streets of #Aden's Sira district. #SouthYemen (photos)
https://twitter.com/demolinari/status/954697181075681282
(B E P)
Economic war hits Yemen from south to north
The southerners have run out of patience during the three years of the Saudi-Emirati occupation of their country, and the Saudi-Emirati promises are today, only camps and foreign soldiers, the looting of wealth and the occupation of the islands.
Abu Dhabi seeks to exploit its military presence within the Arab coalition led by Saudi Arabia in Yemen, to extend its economic power and regional influence. The UAE controls five ports out of eight to control the shipping and trade traffic to Yemen and promote the activity of Jebel Ali Port. Most of Yemen’s imports come from Dubai, such as food, fuel, building materials, furniture, solar energy systems, even cigarettes and tobacco.
But the question here is, does this step serve the Yemeni economy or a step to completely invade the Yemeni economy and collapse it?
http://www.newnewss.net/2044-2/
(B)
"#Saudi/#UAE-liberated", temporary #Yemen capital Aden city: Freedom, Mad Max style – No restrictions at all as sewage flows freely on the streets (photo)
Comment: This is a view in Aden. Despite over two years of liberation many areas in Aden are still uninhabitable and electricity and water supplies are not reinstalled yet. And there are few jobs except in aid agencies and armies.
https://www.facebook.com/judith.brown.794628/posts/10156308370393641
(A T)
Unidentified attacker threw a grenade at the home of Southern Movement leader Abdulaziz Qasim Al-Mani in Khobar village of Al-Husayn district in #Dhale province yesterday. No injuries
https://twitter.com/demolinari/status/954264558570385408
(A T)
#AQAP claims injuring two Security Belt soldiers by targeting their vehicle with an IED in #Mahfad district #Abyan at 8:30am on Jan 18
https://twitter.com/demolinari/status/954271715898490881
(A K)
Member of the #RSLF 64th SF Brig. deployed to #Aden in support of Operation #RestoreHope (photo)
https://twitter.com/MbKS15/status/954320877121916928
(A P)
Southern Transitional Council of Al-Dalea Holds a Forum about Southern Tolerance and Reconciliation
brigadier Abdullah Mahdy Said, chairman of the council in Al-Dalea asserted the importance of tolerance and reconciliation as an Arabic value for accepting the other. Brigadier Said asserted that the south lived in contradictions even before 1967 till 1990. But conflict rose from such contradictions were quickly ended. Dr. Saleh Abdu introduced a paper titled by “Social concept of southern tolerance and reconciliation” where he asserted that tolerance and reconciliation protects the south from irrelevant conflicts and increases the southern unity and this was clear in the struggle against Al-Houthi / Efash occupation. Dr. Saleh warned about following the agenda of the enemy media that seeks to increase sectarian and internal conflicts.
(* B P)
Le Yémen est-il en train de brader l’archipel de Socotra aux Emirats arabes unis ?
Alors que la crise au Yémen s’aggrave, les Emirats arabes unis en profitent pour prendre le contrôle de Socotra, ensemble d’îles situées au carrefour des très stratégiques voies navigables du golfe d’Aden.
Situé à plus de 300 kilomètres des côtes yéménites, l’archipel de Socotra déconcerte. Un “havre de paix” à la végétation luxuriante accueille les touristes en quête de paradis oublié. L’archipel, appartenant au Yémen, « revêt une importance mondiale pour la conservation de la biodiversité », affirme d’ailleurs l’Unesco, qui l’a inclus dans sa liste de sites appartenant au patrimoine mondial.
Un “havre de paix” hautement stratégique. Socotra, par son positionnement à l’entrée du golfe d’Aden, permet de controler l’accès à ce dernier. Plus de 25 000 navires, 12 % de la production mondiale de pétrole brut et un tiers de l’approvisionnement énergétique de l’Europe y passent chaque année. Il s’agit donc d’une zone qui présente un intérêt commercial remarquable puisqu’elle permet de garder un contrôle sur les échanges.
Certains pays, comme les Emirats Arabes Unis, ont bien compris l’intérêt de Socotra, et profitent de la situation géopolitique dégradée de la région pour tenter d’en prendre le contrôle.
https://www.secret-defense.org/15/01/2018/emirats-arabes-unis-au-yemen-socotra/
(B E P)
Film: Yemen - Anticipation For Resuming The LNG Project In Balhaf. (Arabic)
Although the province of Shabwa is rich in mineral resources, including oil, which is the mainstay of the largest economic projects in the province, such as the LNG project, which is the largest economic and investment project in Yemen, but the repercussions of the war in Yemen affected these projects. Today, following security arrangements in the province by Shabwa’s elite forces, a Yemeni government official expects to complete the process of securing the Balhaf gas port and resuming the project due to its economic importance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xyu4Q2CPFQY
(A T)
#AQAP claims 4 soldiers were killed or wounded in ambush on the car of Hajr district #Hadramout's security chief Omar bin Daghr in Kawd Bataher area at 9:30am on Jan 18. (photo)
https://twitter.com/demolinari/status/954162704494702592
(A T)
Gunmen assassinate imam of al-Adel Mosque in Aden
Unknown gunmen assassinated one of the Imams (prayer leaders) of Al-Adel mosque in Enma area in the temporary capital Aden on Thursday.
Local sources said that the assailants were on a white Tusan car. They shot dead Ayman Ba-Yameen and fledimmediately.
Assassinations of mosque leaders and preachers are on the rise in Aden.
https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-14766
and
(A T)
Salafi imam Sheikh Ayman Bayamin of Al-Adel Mosque assassinated in Enma neighborhood of Mansoura #Aden on Jan 18 by gunmen using a suppressed pistol. (photos)
https://twitter.com/demolinari/status/954191110364053504
Remark: At Aden, already several Salafi imams had been killed in the last months.
(A T)
AQAP militants shelled Emirati-backed al Hizam Security Forces in al Mahfad district, Abyan governorate, southern Yemen on January 17. AQAP militants frequently target al Hizam forces in reprisal for al Hizam’s attempt to clear al Mahfad of AQAP militants.[5]
(A T)
#AQAP militants ambushed the vehicle of Hajr district #Hadramout security chief this morning killing his guard Mohammed Omar bin Daghr.
https://twitter.com/demolinari/status/953992050097012736
(A P)
What Changed the Legitimacy’s Mind About Tarek Saleh?
In a recent tweet, Fahad Al-Shelimy, a Kuwaiti analyst, described the reform party as “pragmatic and divided among Qatar, the Legitimacy and, secretly, Al-Houthi. It can’t be trusted, and it is a loser bit”.
Efforts of the reform party for exhausting any efforts by the Arab Ally to gather Yemeni separate parties together towards the goal of fighting Al-Houthi militias is very clear now in a media campaign against brigadier Tarek Saleh, nephew of the late Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh, to block the road in front of his trials to add any momentum to the war against Al-Houthi.
http://en.smanews.org/what-changed-the-legitimacys-mind-about-tarek-saleh
Remark: By southern separatists’ media.
(A P)
The ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in #Yemen, Mohammed al-Jaber, arrived at the airport in Aden with a high-ranking military and economic delegation.
The arrival of the ambassador follows a significant security and military deployment in the Khor Maksar district as well as roads in the area of the airport.
The visit of the Saudi ambassador aimed at discussing the possibility of using Aden's port as an alternative to Hodeidah which is in the target of a future 'taking'
https://www.yenisafak.com/en/world/saudi-envoy-to-yemen-arrives-in-interim-capital-aden-2982807
http://wam.ae/en/details/1395302661157
(A P)
#Aden security forces led by Maj Gen Shallal Shaye launched a campaign to remove random construction on land in Bir Fadhl region. (photos)
https://twitter.com/demolinari/status/953967370669666304
(A T)
IED targeted the vehicle of #Mahfad district #Abyan Security Belt leader Salem Muhaim at the eastern entrance to Al-Mahfad town. Several soldiers and civilians were wounded. (photo)
https://twitter.com/demolinari/status/953975914064310272
(B P)
"Mittlerweile ist der Krieg im Süden für beendet erklärt"
Der Journalist Oliver Ramme ist der einzige Journalist, der aktuell aus dem Süden des Jemen berichten kann. "Die Lage hat sich weitestgehend entspannt", sagte Ramme im Dlf. Der Krieg sei fast überall vorbei. Allerdings würde die wirtschaftliche Lage die Menschen stark beschäftigen und Misstrauen in der Bevölkerung schüren.
"Die Lage hat sich weitestgehend entspannt", sagte Oliver Ramme mit Blick auf die Lage im Südjemen. Auch in die Krankenhäusern gebe es keine Cholera-Infizierten mehr. "Die Säle sind mittlerweile verwaist."
Allerdings seien Fälle von Diphtherie wieder aufgetreten. Dies habe es zuletzt in den 90er-Jahren im Jemen gegeben. Und bei Kindern häufen sich auch wieder die Fälle von Masern.
Auf seinen Fahrten seien die Märkte "reich gefüllt", Essen, Trinken und auch Strom seien konstant zu bekommen. "Mittlerweile wird der Krieg im Süden für beendet erklärt", sagte Ramme im Deutschlandfunk. Denn es gebe kaum noch kriegerische Auseinandersetzungen. Dies liege vor allem daran, dass die Huthis in den Norden vertrieben worden und die IS- und Al-Kaida-Terroristen spurlos verschwunden sind.
Neben dem Geld, der Inflation, herrsche ein großes Misstrauen und eine große politische Zukunftsangst. "Im Süden gibt es von jeher eine große Unzufriedenheit, man will unabhängig werden und jetzt wittert man Morgenluft."
http://www.deutschlandfunk.de/jemen-mittlerweile-ist-der-krieg-im-sueden-fuer-beendet.1773.de.html und Audio: http://www.ardmediathek.de/radio/Informationen-am-Morgen/Lage-im-S%C3%BCd-Jemen-zunehmend-besser/Deutschlandfunk/Audio-Podcast?bcastId=21601458&documentId=49246540 = https://player.fm/series/informationen-am-morgen-deutschlandfunk/lage-im-sd-jemen-zunehmend-besser
Mein Kommentar: Das erscheint doch vielfach sehr oberflächlich. Cholera: Ja, in den Provinzen Aden, Lahj, Shabwah rückläufig. – Heftige Kämpfe in Al-Bayda, der Provinz Taiz, im Süden der Provinz Hodeida. – Die Märkte “reich gefüllt”: Selbst dann sind die Preise so hoch, dass viele trotzdem hunger müssen. – “IS- und Al-Kaida-Terroristen spurlos verschwunden“: LOL. LOL. Das sind „alternative Fakten“.
(A P)
Authorities of Queen Alia International Airport in Amman Arrest Sister of Ben Doghr’s Secretary with More Than 650 Thousand US Dollars in Her Possession
(A K P)
2nd Hazm Brigade inaugurated the new training year with a military parade at Al-Anad base attended by 4th Military Region commander Maj Gen Fadhl Hassan and #Lahj Governor Maj Gen Ahmed Abdullah Al-Turki. 2nd Hazm Brigade is active on the Kirsh border front. #SouthYemen (photo)
https://twitter.com/demolinari/status/953810980932218880
Photo: Remarkable is the Southern Yemeni flag which now is the flag of southern separatists.
(A T)
Yemeni senior officer assassinated in Aden
A senior officer of the UAE-backed Yemeni security forces was assassinated on Wednesday by gunmen in the country's southern port city of Aden, a local government official told Xinhua.
The assassinated security officer, identified as Qassim alHariri, was a member of the anti-terror troops backed by the United Arab Emirates, the source added.
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-01/17/c_136903085.htm
and
(A T)
#Aden security officer Brig Gen Qasim Abdulrahman Al-Hariri assassinated in Al-Imad area of Dar Saad district. (photo)
https://twitter.com/demolinari/status/953598861590736897
(A P)
Revolutionary Escalation Committee Holds a Meeting and Announces the First Escalation Against the Existence of Sanaa’s War Criminals in the South
The revolutionary escalation committee held its first meeting in Adan and announced rejecting the existence of war criminals, who killed the southern citizens, in Adan. This meeting came after “Tarek Saleh”, nephew of the ousted Ali Abdullah Saleh, was declared to be in Adan with other war criminal who were involved in killing southern citizens
Remark: Saleh’s nephew and other GPC members who had fled from Sanaa not welcomed by southern separatists, see YPR 377, cp6.
cp7 UNO und Friedensgespräche / UN and peace talks
(* B H P)
The U.N.’s Terrible Dilemma: Who Gets To Eat?
The U.N. is facing a terrible dilemma.
“Basically, when we haven’t got enough money, we have to decide who’s not going to get food,” says Peter Smerdon, a spokesman for the U.N.’s World Food Programme in East Africa.
And even though the program’s budget is at a record high, it’s not enough to keep up with the number of refugees and people in other crisis situations who need emergency food aid. Continuing conflicts in countries like Syria and Yemen and other crises led to the agency’s multibillion-dollar budget shortfall last year. It received a total of $6.8 billion from countries, organizations and private donors when it needed $9.1 billion to do its job.
https://zedie.wordpress.com/2018/01/18/the-u-n-s-terrible-dilemma-who-gets-to-eat/
(* B H P)
Jan Egeland, NRC: UN Security Council shamefully mute on Yemen for 7 months, while it watches Yemen families starving to death. Man-made famine looming on scale not witnessed in decades.
https://twitter.com/NRC_Egeland/status/953885313822322689
cp8 Saudi-Arabien / Saudi Arabia
(A P)
Saudi minister previously detained in corruption crackdown to head Davos delegation
Saudi Arabia’s delegation to the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos next week will be led by state minister Ibrahim al-Assaf, who was released from detention related to an anti-corruption purge in November, Saudi sources said.
Assaf, who was also a former finance minister and a board member of national oil company Saudi Aramco, was among people detained and under investigation by a new anti-corruption body, a senior Saudi official had told Reuters.
(* B P)
Amnesty International: SAUDI ARABIA 2016/2017
The authorities severely curtailed the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly, detaining and imprisoning critics, human rights defenders and minority rights activists on vaguely worded charges. Torture and other ill-treatment of detainees remained common, particularly during interrogation, and courts continued to accept torture-tainted “confessions” to convict defendants in unfair trials. Women faced discrimination in both law and practice and were inadequately protected against sexual and other violence. The authorities continued to arrest, detain and deport irregular migrants. Courts imposed many death sentences, including for non-violent crimes and against juvenile offenders; scores of executions were carried out. Coalition forces led by Saudi Arabia committed serious violations of international law, including war crimes, in Yemen.
Armed conflict in Yemen
Freedoms of expression, association and assembly
Human rights defenders
Counter-terror and security
Arbitrary arrests and detentions
Torture and other ill-treatment
Cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment
Discrimination – Shi’a minority
Women’s rights
Migrant workers’ rights
Death penalty
https://www.amnesty.org/en/countries/middle-east-and-north-africa/saudi-arabia/report-saudi-arabia/
(* B P)
HRW: Saudi Arabia, Events of 2017
Through 2017, the Saudi-led coalition continued a military campaign against the Houthi rebel group and their former allies, forces loyal to now-deceased former president Ali Abdullah Saleh in Yemen, that included scores of unlawful airstrikes that killed and wounded thousands of civilians. On June 5, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the UAE cut off diplomatic relations with Qatar and ordered the expulsion of Qatari citizens and the return of their citizens from Qatar.
Saudi authorities continued their arbitrary arrests, trials, and convictions of peaceful dissidents. Dozens of human rights defenders and activists continued to serve long prison sentences for criticizing authorities or advocating political and rights reforms. Authorities continued to discriminate against women and religious minorities.
https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2018/country-chapters/saudi-arabia
(A P)
IUMS call on Saudi Arabia, UAE to release detained Muslim clerics
The International Union of Muslim clerics (IUMS) called on Wednesday for the release of all Muslim clerics arrested in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The call came in a statement issued after the son of the Saudi cleric Salman al-Awda announced on Tuesday that his father had been transferred to hospital after four months in detention.
and
(A P)
Saudi cleric hospitalised after five months in solitary confinement over 'Qatar reconciliation tweet'
Awda was arrested after posting a tweet welcoming reports of a possible reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Qatar. He has now been hospitalised after almost five months in solitary confinement.
(* A E P)
Saudi Arabia aims to prequalify firms by April or May for first nuclear plant
REUTERS reported that Saudi Arabia plans to prequalify for bidding firms from two or three countries by April or May for the first nuclear reactors it wants to build.
My comment: Western attitude is crazy when looking at the Western position towards the Iranian nuclear program.
(A E P)
Saudi Arabia, If Oil Becomes A Curse
In an era where governments are broke, we’re grateful not to be a billionaire. Nonetheless, including the country’s foreign reserves, Salman now has about US$1.2 trillion in the kitty. That should give him a few more months to figure out his next move, especially while the oil price remains high. The 32-year-old crowned price wants to turn Saudi Arabia into the next Dubai. The oil era is over — electric and hydrogen fuel cell cars are the future.
Can the Kingdom restructure the economy before the clock runs out?
https://www.worldcrunch.com/opinion-analysis/saudi-arabia-if-oil-becomes-a-curse
(A E P)
No business like show business: Saudi Arabia to invest $500 million in Hollywood
Saudi Arabia is looking to invest more than $500 million in a Hollywood agency which manages the likes of Jake Gyllenhaal and Emma Stone.
The ultra-conservative kingdom, which only opened up to the film industry last month with the lifting of a ban on cinemas, is in talks to buy a stake in Endeavor via its sovereign wealth fund, reported Bloomberg.
https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2018/1/16/saudi-arabia-to-invest-500-million-in-hollywood
My comment: LOL.
(A E P)
Saudi Arabia Holds Car Show Just for Women
The first car show just for women was recently held at a shopping center in the western coastal city of Jeddah.
http://en.brinkwire.com/98975/saudi-arabia-holds-car-show-just-for-women/
(* A E P)
Economists 'cautious' on positive Saudi outlook
Five economists surveyed said growth would be well below what's predicted in Saudi budget
Saudi Arabia’s government expects record spending to deliver a strong economic rebound in 2018. Economists say it’s too optimistic, with officials underestimating the impact of new taxes, subsidy cuts and oil prices.
Even after King Salman ordered additional cash handouts this month to mitigate the toll of austerity on households, the median estimate of five economists surveyed by Bloomberg is 1.6 percent growth - well below the 2.7 percent in the Saudi budget - with predictions ranging from 0.7 percent to 2 percent.
Below are some key reasons for economists’ scepticism:
(* A P)
Despite reforms, Saudi women still silenced: rights groups
Despite enjoying some newfound freedoms such as the right to attend a football match, Saudi women, particularly rights activists, continue to be silenced, two rights groups said Wednesday.
The Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation against Torture (OMCT) said the “scandalous” treatment of women activists in the Islamic kingdom raised questions about the monarchy’s “genuine willingness” to modernise.
“On the one hand, since 2016, there have been momentous announcements on the societal reforms to come; on the other, since 2011, there has been an ongoing and unprecedented wave of repression directed against human rights defenders,” they said in a joint report released in the French capital.
https://www.nst.com.my/world/2018/01/326263/despite-reforms-saudi-women-still-silenced-rights-groups
(A P)
Railway link project proposed between Israel and Saudi Arabia, Israel calls it as ‘Peace Line’
Railway linking plan to connect Israel and Saudi Arabia is in consideration of the Israeli government and it has approved the cost of the project which is included in its 2019 budget three days earlier.
The Cost of the railway linking project is expected to be 15 million shekels ($4.5 million).
cp9 USA
Siehe / Look at cp1
(* A P T)
We will fight': 9/11 families renew bid to sue Saudi
Saudi Arabia has again defended its government against allegations of providing support to the perpetrators of the September 11, 2001, attacks in New York, as the kingdom's lawyers faced family members of victims in a Manhattan federal courtroom.
Thursday's hearing marked the third time a group of families of 9/11 victims and survivors have tried to sue the Saudi government for damages relating to the attack that killed nearly 3,000 people.
Fifteen of the 19 attackers were Saudi citizens.
Victims' relatives, survivors and insurance companies have claimed that members of the Saudi government supported the al-Qaeda-affiliated men who hijacked and crashed planes into New York's World Trade Center, the Pentagon outside Washington, and a Pennsylvania field.
They also accuse Saudi Arabia of funding charities that supported al-Qaeda.
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/01/fight-911-families-renew-bid-sue-saudi-180119063953735.html
(* A K P)
Trump's first year in numbers: Strikes triple in Yemen and Somalia
President Donald Trump launched at least 161 strikes in Yemen and Somalia during his first year in office, the Bureau's latest figures show - more than triple the number carried out the year before.
This means there were over 100 times more strikes in Yemen and more than 30 times as many strikes in Somalia during President Trump’s first year in office than during his predecessor, Barack Obama’s.
President Trump inherited the framework allowing US aircraft to hit suspected terrorists outside of declared battlefields from Obama. His administration has largely stuck within the framework set by the previous administration.
More US strikes hit Yemen this year than the past four years combined.
Most of the 125 strikes in 2017 hit in central Yemen, where the US military’s Central Command (Centcom) vigorously pursued fighters from al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).
In March 2017 the US designated parts of Yemen as an “area of active hostilities”, covering several unspecified Yemeni provinces in the country’s centre, essentially laying out the ground for anunprecedented aerial bombardment.
The US also started targeting fighters loyal to Islamic State - Centcom reported it carried out at least nine strikes targeting the group.
(A)
Before We Are Banned
Before We Were Banned is a group art show in response to the Muslim Ban 1.0, opening on Friday January 26 at 6pm at ArtHelix in Bushwick, NY. The show focuses on artists residing and working in the US, but with familial lineage/heritage/roots to the 7 countries on the Muslim Ban 1.0 list – Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.
Three Yemeni American artists - Layali al-Sadah, Asiya al-Sharabi, and Ibi Ibrahim - will be taking part in a group exhibition opening on Friday, January 26 at 6pm at ArtHelix in Bushwick, NY.
https://www.beforewewerebanned.com/
(* B K P)
The Disgraceful U.S. Enabling Role in the War on Yemen
it is the coalition’s reliance on U.S. and other Western backers that needs to be emphasized here. News reports on the war frequently minimize or completely ignore U.S. involvement in the conflict, and very few make clear how essential our military assistance has been to keeping the coalition war effort going. This is why I and other opponents of our involvement have talked about the enabling role our government has in this war. If the U.S. curtailed or halted its assistance to the coalition, it would be difficult if not impossible for them to continue fighting the war as they have. It would be bad enough if the U.S. were merely aiding and abetting the coalition in its wrecking and starving of Yemen, but it is worse than that. Our government’s support helps make continuing the war possible, and that ensures that the suffering of tens of millions of Yemenis, at least eight million of whom are on the verge of famine, will only get worse over time.
As awful as things were under the previous administration, it is also important to remember that they have gotten much worse in just the last year
The Trump administration is now belatedly and half-heartedly making some noises about the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Yemen, but that catastrophe grew significantly worse thanks in no small part to the administration’s indulgence of the Saudis and their allies over the last year. There still appears to be no recognition among administration officials that continued U.S. support for the war is partly responsible for creating the dire humanitarian conditions in the country, and unless that changes the world’s worst humanitarian crisis will keep claiming more innocent lives.
It can’t be stressed enough that the U.S. has no good reasons to be involved in this war – by Daniel Larison
(B P)
U.S. military support has enabled the Saudi coalition’s destruction of Yemen’s civil infrastructure and its cultural heritage sites, exacerbated an already devastating humanitarian crisis, and empowered terrorist organizations.
Although it is difficult to appeal to the U.S. government to save Yemen from its humanitarian crisis, given America’s abysmal record in the region, it is incumbent upon peace-loving and anti-war citizens to demand that the government immediately end its air strikes on Yemen, halt its arms sales to the despotic Saudi regime, and provide Yemen with urgently needed humanitarian aid.
https://www.facebook.com/Stopwaronyemen/posts/1662105810499305
(* B P)
Trump’s brazen hypocrisy on human rights in Iran
As protesters march in Iran, the U.S. government has emerged as a brave champion of human rights. “The great Iranian people have been repressed for many years,” noted Donald Trump on Twitter. Mike Pence saluted them for “rising up to demand freedom and opportunity” and endorsed their “unalienable right to chart their own future.”
The president and vice president are inordinately proud of themselves for saying such things. But every administration statement on Iran should carry a qualifier: “Void in Saudi Arabia.” The noble phrases only serve to highlight the White House’s hypocrisy.
The Trump who laments the lack of freedom in Iran is the same one who traveled to Riyadh to celebrate “the magnificent Kingdom of Saudi Arabia” and assure his hosts, “We are not here to tell other people how to live.” Instead, he said, “we are here to offer partnership based on shared interests and values.”
With Iran, Trump threatens new sanctions. With Saudi Arabia, he bragged of signing a big arms deal – By Stephen Chapman
cp10 Großbritannien / Great Britain
Siehe / Look at cp1
(A P)
Petition: Theresa May: Cancel the invitation for Saudi Crown Prince to visit the UK
We call on the Prime Minister to withdraw the invitation for the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia to visit the UK.
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/209458
(* A P)
Theresa May is rolling out the red carpet for a powerful world figure who deserves Trump-sized protests
We’ve all been celebrating Donald Trump’s planned trip to the UK being cancelled. But before we put away the placards and banners, there’s another world leader who’s visiting in the next few weeks. And his visit deserves an even bigger response than Trump’s. Because many lives depend on it.
Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi Arabian Crown Prince, is set to become the next leader of Saudi Arabia. And his visit to the UK was confirmed in December. Human rights groups have written to Theresa May calling for the visit to be cancelled because of Saudi Arabia’s continued bombing of Yemen.
It’s all about the arms trade
And if the situation in Yemen wasn’t bad enough, there are the human rights issues in Saudi Arabia itself.
See you on the streets!
(* A P)
Why Theresa May must cancel the Saudi Prince's visit
The visit, which is expected in the weeks ahead, will be a major propaganda victory for a soon-to-be leader who has already invested a great deal of his time and efforts into trying to improve the regime’s appalling reputation on the world stage.
Despite some much-touted and relatively minor reforms, the Saudi dictatorship is still one of the most repressive in the world. It does not observe the most basic human rights of Saudi people, and has a long and shameful record of punishing opponents and journalists. In 2017 alone it executed over 100 people.
In his dual role, which also comprises the position of defence minister of Saudi Arabia, the Crown Prince has overseen the terrible bombardment and destruction of Yemen.
UK weapons have played a central role in that crisis.
It is to this appalling backdrop that Theresa May has pulled out all stops to impress the new Crown Prince, visiting him last November and offering him the photo-opportunities and prestige that go with a visit to Downing Street.
Theresa May and her predecessors have always argued that sitting down with regimes and selling them weapons is a good way to influence them, but there is no evidence of any government in world history improving its human rights record in order to buy UK weapons.
If anything the exact opposite is the case.
Poll after poll has shown that the overwhelming majority of the UK public opposes May's uncritical political and military support for the regime – by Andrew Smith, a spokesperson for Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT)
Comment: If the visit goes ahead, the message it will send to the Crown Prince is one of total support. However, the message it will send to those being abused and tortured by his regime, and to those being bombed in Yemen, is a very different one. It will tell them that their human rights don’t matter. It will tell them that their lives are less important than arms company profits.
https://www.facebook.com/LivingInYemenOnTheEdge/posts/1621630761223281
(* B P)
Britain should take inspiration from Norway's principled stance on the UAE
Norway's recent announcement to suspend arms sales to UAE constitutes one of the most principled stances yet taken by a European country with regards to the war in Yemen and one of its key participants, the UAE.
There has, however, so far been no signal that the British government is set to follow suit. Alongside France and the US, the UK has been one of the principal exporters of arms to the Gulf region.
It is this vision of "an arms dealer's Brexit" that currently holds sway within the halls of Westminster. Rather than addressing the deep structural problems in the UK economy in relation to stagnant GDP growth and low productivity, the UK export economy will become increasingly reliant on the much outsourced and capital-intensive arms sector.
Though the UK's relationship with Saudi Arabia is often in the spotlight, the same level of public scrutiny is not applied to its burgeoning ties with the United Arab Emirates. The announcement in 2015, that the UK is set to double bilateral trade with the Emirati state to a staggering £25bn by 2020, barely raised an eyebrow in the UK press.
It is, however, this lack of public scrutiny that the UK's continued relationship with the UAE relies upon and it is why Norway's recent announcement will no doubt anger a number of British ministers who would like to keep it that way.
(A K P)
Yemen: Humanitarian Aid
The Minister for the Middle East (Alistair Burt):
The UK is the second largest donor to the UN Yemen appeal and the third largest donor to Yemen in the world.
We will continue our support for the coalition, which is fighting a serious insurgency and armed support from outside Yemen directed against it, but we will be firm in our determination to see an end to the conflict, which is the only thing that will resolve the humanitarian crisis.
and
(A K P)
"We will be firm in our determination to see an end to the conflict which is the only thing that will resolve the humanitarian crisis" @AlistairBurtUK on the UK response to the Yemen crisis during DFID #OralPQs today. (film)
https://twitter.com/DFID_UK/status/953621096338722817
My comment: Hypocrisy in its final stage. Selling arms to warring parties in Yemen exactly achieves the opposite:
(* B K P)
Six things you need to know about the UK arms trade
The UK government is one of the biggest arms exporters in the world. Here are six things you need to know about the UK arms trade.
The UK arms and supports many of the most authoritarian regimes in the world.
UK fighter jets and bombs are playing a central role in the Saudi-led bombing of Yemen
We have no way of knowing how weapons will be used, or who they will be used against
Arms sales don’t just provide military support, they are also a clear sign of political support
Arms companies are profiting from the refugee crisis
None of this would be possible without the active support of government
https://www.redpepper.org.uk/six-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-uk-arms-trade/
(B H K P)
Penny Mordaunt calls for continued commercial and aid access throughout Yemen
All parties to the conflict must continue to allow unhindered commercial and humanitarian access throughout Yemen to avert the risk of mass starvation, International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt warned today. Yemen is the largest humanitarian catastrophe in the world and has left over three quarters of the Yemeni population in desperate need of assistance.
International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt, who visited Saudi Arabia and Djibouti in December to call for access and meet aid workers, said:
The UK Government strongly condemns the continued firing of ballistic missiles from Yemen towards Saudi Arabia. We continue to support Saudi Arabia to strengthen efforts to prevent the flow of illegal weapons by providing extra UK support to the UN’s Verification and Inspection Mechanism. We are also engaging with Saudi Arabia’s plans to develop an operational humanitarian plan for Yemen.
My comment: This is criticizing and justifying the Saudi blockade in the same statement. And: „The UK Government strongly condemns the continued firing of ballistic missiles from Yemen towards Saudi Arabia“. The british government does not „strongly condemn the continued firing of air raid bombs from Saudi Arabia on Yemen“. Although the effect oft he latter is extremely much more disastrous.
cp11 Deutschland / Germany
Siehe / Look at cp1, cp13a
cp12 Andere Länder / Other countries
Siehe / Look at cp1 (Oman)
(* A H K P)
Canada to provide $12-million to humanitarian groups in Yemen
The announcement, to be made by International Development Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau on Friday, comes even as Canada continues to benefit from the sale of light-armoured vehicles to Saudi Arabia.
The Canadian government and Canadian industry profit from military sales to the Saudis – primarily through its $15-billion sale of weaponized armoured vehicles to Riyadh. A Canadian Crown corporation that brokered the deal gets an unspecified cut of the proceeds, as does General Dynamics Land Systems Canada, which makes them.
"However welcome and necessary aid to Yemen may be, it does not obscure Canada's role as a key enabler of the Saudi regime," said Cesar Jaramillo, executive director of Project Ploughshares.
Assisting Saudi interventions in Yemen was an explicit justification for approving Canadian arms exports to Riyadh when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal government approved the $15-billion arms deal in 2016.
The Department of Global Affairs said in its rationale for the sale that Canadian light-armoured vehicles will help Riyadh in its efforts at "countering instability in Yemen."
(A H P)
Russia is ready to resume the implementation of joint projects with Yemen after the situation in the country improves and single government bodies are established, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement ahead of Yemeni Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdulmalik Al-Mekhlafi’s visit to Moscow, due on January 21-23.
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the Yemeni crisis has been directly affecting the country’s relations with Moscow. "As military activities go on, a number of joint trade, economic, cultural and education projects have had to be suspended," the statement reads.
"We believe that their implementation may be resumed after the situation sustainably improves and single government bodies are established," the Russian Foreign Ministry added.
http://tass.com/politics/985906
(* B P)
UAE: Abuses at Home, Abroad
Prominent Critic Detained; Possible War Crimes in Yemen
The United Arab Emirates was involved in abuses at home and abroad in 2017, arresting one of the last outspoken rights critics in the country and playing a role in torture and disappearances in Yemen, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2018.
In March, the UAE detained Ahmed Mansoor, an award-winning human rights activist, who had for years defended and spoken out on behalf of people the UAE was arbitrarily detaining or rounding up in its routine crackdowns on dissent.
“The government and the many public relations firms it pays try to paint the UAE as a modern, reform-oriented country,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “This rosy vision will remain fiction so long as the UAE refuses to release the activists, journalists, and critics it has unjustly jailed, like Ahmed Mansoor.”
https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/01/18/uae-abuses-home-abroad
and
(* B P)
HRW: United Arab Emirates, Events of 2017
The United Arab Emirates’ intolerance of criticism continued in 2017 with the detention of prominent Emirati rights defender Ahmed Mansoor for exercising his right to free expression. The government arbitrarily detains and forcibly disappears individuals who criticize authorities.
The UAE continued to play a leading role in the Saudi-led coalition, which has conducted scores of unlawful attacks in Yemen. The UAE was implicated in detainee abuse at home and abroad.
Labor abuses persist. Migrant construction workers face serious exploitation. The UAE introduced a domestic workers law providing them labor rights for the first time, but some provisions are weaker than those accorded to other workers under the labor law.
The UAE continued to ban representatives of international human rights organizations from visiting.
https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2018/country-chapters/united-arab-emirates
and
(* B P)
Survivors of UAE torture detail abuse ahead of UN human rights review
The UN has rebuked the UAE over its human rights records ahead the UN Human Rights Council's meeting in Geneva on Monday
Foreign nationals who have alleged they were tortured in the United Arab Emirates have said that their countries could have done more to help them, with one former detainee claiming that Britain is letting trade deals trump torture.
United States citizen Naji Hamdan and ex-Leeds United football club director David Haigh spoke at a panel at the Geneva Press Club in Switzerland on Friday alongside Qatari medical doctor Mahmood Al-Jaidah and Palestinian refugee Khaled Mohamed Ahmed, who also say they were tortured in the UAE.
Harrowing instances of rape, electrocution and sleep deprivation were described in minute detail by the four men who came together for the first time, days before the UAE’s human rights record is expected to be heavily scrutinised at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday.
(B P)
Is Jordan Breaking Alliance with Saudi Arabia, West?
Sources at Jordan's parliament have reported that the speaker of Jordanian House of the Representatives Atef Tarawneh is completing arrangements for a high-ranking delegation visit to Tehran. The same sources have added that the visit to Iran will be soon made.
The Jordanian relationship with the Islamic Republic has never been as warm and close as today.
Jordan’s alteration of approach to the regional developments is well observable through regional reactions.
cp12a Katar-Krise / Qatar crisis
(* A P)
Qatari royal: Gulf crisis to seize Qatar's wealth
A member of the Qatari royal family, who was allegedly held against his will in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has accused Saudi Arabia and the UAE of orchestrating a months-long Gulf crisis in order to seize Qatar's wealth, and threatened to commit suicide.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali Al Thani was previously portrayed by Saudi Arabia and the UAE as an alternative to the Qatari leadership amid the major diplomatic dispute.
In an audio recording from January 15 obtained by Al Jazeera, Sheikh Abdullah said the rift was triggered by the Saudi and Emirati crown princes, whom he accused of plotting to take Qatar's wealth by force.
"The Gulf crisis is based on interests and the desire of both Mohammed bin Zayed and Mohammed bin Salman to usurp the wealth and riches of Qatar," the sheikh said, referring to the Abu Dhabi and Saudi crown princes respectively.
(A P)
UAE omits Qatar from world map amid airspace row
Tension continues to mount between Doha, Abu Dhabi following tit-for-tat accusations of airspace breaches
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has omitted the tiny peninsular Arab Gulf state of Qatar from a world map exhibited at a recently opened museum in Abu Dhabi, according to a veteran observer of Gulf affairs.
In an analysis piece written earlier this week entitled “The UAE/Qatar rivalry is escalating”, the Washington Institute’s Simon Henderson noted that a large map of the world featured at the museum “completely omits” the nation of Qatar.
https://www.yenisafak.com/en/world/uae-omits-qatar-from-world-map-amid-airspace-row-2982875
(A P)
VIDEO: Sheikh Zayed Air Navigation Centre report on the interception incident of flight #EK837 by two #Qatari Mirage 2000 jets
https://twitter.com/MbKS15/status/953876263625781248
VIDEO: Sheikh Zayed Air Navigation Centre report on the 2nd incident with flight #EY23B, intercepted by the two #Qatari Mirage 2000 jets again.
https://twitter.com/MbKS15/status/953879712677466112
Remark: Look at YPR 377, cp12a.
cp12b Libanon / Lebanon
(A P)
Hezbollah among most effective forces fighting terror in Mideast: Nasrallah
The secretary general of the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement has described his group as one of the most effective forces in the fight against terrorism across the Middle East region.
Speaking at a ceremony marking the martyrdom anniversary of Hezbollah fighters in Syria’s southwestern Quneitra region on Friday afternoon, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah stated that the sacrifices made by Hezbollah martyrs were behind all victories over US-Israeli plots in the region.
He noted that the United States has long sought to designate Hezbollah as a terrorist outfit, and has even leveled unsubstantiated allegations of involvement in drug trafficking against the resistance movement.
Nasrallah then advised US statesmen to launch a full-scale investigation into the drug-related activities of their own intelligence bodies.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the Hezbollah chief underlined that his movement supports the Lebanese government and military in the face of threats being posed by Israel at border positions.
http://www.newnewss.net/2017-2/
cp13a Waffenhandel / Arms trade
Siehe / Look at cp1 (Deutschland / Germany)
(B K P)
Borsus: "Les armes wallonnes pour l'Arabie saoudite ne sont plus destinées à des opérations militaires hors du pays"
[Since 2017, the Wallonia Region (Belgium) no longer grants arms export licenses to Saudi Arabia to conduct military operations outside of the country, but only to the Royal and National Guards, said Minister-President Willy Borsus.]
"Les destinataires des licences octroyées par la Région wallonne à l'Arabie saoudite sont la Garde nationale et la Garde royale de cet État. La Garde nationale a pour mission de protéger les frontières et les lieux stratégiques du pays. La Garde royale, quant à elle, a pour mission de protéger la famille royale d'Arabie saoudite, composée d'environ 15.000 personnes", a détaillé le chef de l'exécutif wallon. Il souligne que ces deux corps ne sont "aucunement destinées à mener des opérations militaires en dehors de l'Arabie saoudite".
My comment: Really? “mission de protéger les frontiers”, what is that?
(A K P)
#RSAF F-15SA performs a test flight with a unique A/A configuration of 12x AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles at Palmdale, #CA. (photos)
https://twitter.com/MbKS15/status/954269215837614080
My comment: More bombing on Yemen, thanks to US supplies.
(* A K P)
US administration approves $500mn missile system deal with Saudi Arabia
The US State Department has approved a possible $500-million sale of missile system support services to Saudi Arabia in defiance of global calls for Washington to stop providing Riyadh with military support due to the regime’s war crimes in Yemen.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency made the announcement in a statement on Wednesday, saying Congress had been notified of the decision.
Congress now has 30 days to review the proposed sale, but it is not required to take any action.
The potential sale follows a request by Saudi Arabia for continued technical assistance for Patriot Legacy Field Surveillance Program (FSP), the Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3) and the Patriot Engineering Services Program (ESP).
The package also includes spare parts and logistical support for Patriot and Hawk missile systems.
http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2018/01/18/549321/saudi-us-missile
(* A K P)
Bundesregierung stoppt Rüstungsexporte an arabische Verbündete
Saudi-Arabien und Jordanien gehören zu den besten Kunden deutscher Rüstungskonzerne. Wegen ihrer Rolle im Jemen werden die Deals vorerst gestoppt – auf Betreiben der SPD.
Die Bundesregierung hat die Rüstungsexporte in Länder gestoppt, die am Jemen-Krieg beteiligt sind. Derzeit würden keine Exportgenehmigungen erteilt, die "nicht mit dem Sondierungsergebnis im Einklang" stehen, sagte Regierungssprecher Steffen Seibert mit Verweis auf eine Vereinbarung bei den Sondierungsverhandlungen mit der Union vom vergangenen Freitag, in der es heißt: "Die Bundesregierung wird ab sofort keine Ausfuhren an Länder genehmigen, solange diese am Jemen-Krieg beteiligt sind." Damit hatte die SPD einen Kurswechsel bei der Genehmigung von Rüstungsexporten durchgesetzt.
Diese Entscheidung richtet sich gegen Jordanien, Ägypten, Bahrain, Kuwait, Marokko, Sudan und Senegal – aber vor allem gegen Saudi-Arabien und die Vereinigten Arabischen Emirate, die bei den Einzelgenehmigungen deutscher Rüstungsexporte unter den zehn wichtigsten Empfängerländern liegen und zugleich führende Akteure der sogenannten Jemen-Allianz sind.
Konkret geht es bei dem Exportstopp vor allem um Patrouillenboote für Saudi-Arabien, die auf der zum Lürssen-Konzern gehörenden Peene-Werft im vorpommerschen Wolgast gebaut werden sollen.
http://www.zeit.de/politik/ausland/2018-01/jemen-krieg-ruestungsexporte-bundesregierung-spd-stopp
(* A K P)
Wegen Sondierungsergebnis: Bundesregierung stoppt Rüstungsexporte nach Saudi-Arabien
Die Bundesregierung hat die Rüstungsexporte in die am Jemen-Krieg beteiligten Länder gestoppt. Regierungssprecher Steffen Seibert erklärte, dass derzeit keine Exportgenehmigungen erteilt würden, die "nicht mit dem Sondierungsergebnis im Einklang" stünden.
In der Vereinbarung von Union und SPD heißt es: "Die Bundesregierung wird ab sofort keine Ausfuhren an Länder genehmigen, solange diese am Jemen-Krieg beteiligt sind."
Betroffen sind mehrere arabische Länder, zu denen Deutschland partnerschaftliche Beziehungen hat.
Jordanien zählt zu den Ländern, deren Aufrüstung die Bundesregierung sogar finanziell unterstützt.
Durchgesetzt hat den Beschluss die SPD auf den letzten Metern der Sondierungsverhandlungen. Bis zuletzt stand er in eckigen Klammern - was bedeutet, dass noch nicht darüber entschieden ist. Am Ende einigten sich beide Seiten dann aber doch darauf.
Der SPD ging es vor allem darum, die Rüstungsexporte an die beiden führenden Länder der Jemen-Allianz, Saudi-Arabien und VAE, zu stoppen
https://www.schwarzwaelder-bote.de/inhalt.wegen-sondierungsergebnis-bundesregierung-stoppt-ruestungsexporte-nach-saudi-arabien.438609e2-d912-4a49-8d31-fb9ddb09c456.html = https://www.sz-online.de/nachrichten/keine-waffen-mehr-fuer-die-saudis-3863985.html
(*A K P)
Germany halts weapons exports to parties in Yemen conflict
Saudi Arabia buys hundreds of millions in military equipment from Germany each year.
The German government said on Friday that it would "immediately" stop approving arms exports to anyone participating in the war in Yemen. The move would include Saudi Arabia, a major buyer of German weapons.
Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman wrote on Twitter that Germany "isn't taking any arms export decisions right now that aren't in line with the results of the preliminary talks," referring to coalition talks between Merkel's center-right Christian Democrats (CDU) and the center-left Social Democrats (SPD).
Arms exports to nations with poor human rights records like Saudi Arabia and Qatar have been heavily criticized by opposition politicians in Berlin.
After a request from Left party lawmaker Stefan Liebich in the fall, Merkel's government was forced to admit that it had nearly quintupled arms sales to Saudi Arabia and Egypt from 2016 to 2017.
http://www.dw.com/en/germany-halts-weapons-exports-to-parties-in-yemen-conflict/a-42229376
My comment: Finally!!!!!!
(A P)
Yemen Welcomes GERMANY’S Step of Stopping Arms’ Exporting to Yemen Combatants
Senior official at Sana’a Ministry of Foreign Affairs has welcomed the Germany step to stop arms sales to Saudi Arabia and UAE considering it a “responsible and important step”, according to 26 September online newspaper.
http://www.newnewss.net/yemen-welcomes-germanys-step-stopping-arms-exporting-yemen-combatants/
Remark: Sanaa government.
(* B K P)
Film: Saudi-Arabiens Krieg gegen Jemen / Rheinmetall und die Umgehung geltende Waffen-Exportverbote
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ivOUZZQcXw
Bemerkung: Berichte in YPR 377 und 376. Hier noch ein verspäteter Bericht:
(* B K P)
Deutsche Waffen für den Jemen: Die Gewinne Rheinmetalls im Jemen-Krieg
https://deutsch.rt.com/inland/63765-gewinne-rheinmetalls-im-jemen-krieg/
A reminder from 2017:
(** B K P)
How France Participates in the Yemen Conflict
ARMS SALES AND WAR CRIMES
https://orientxxi.info/magazine/how-france-participates-in-the-yemen-conflict,1997
cp13b Mercenaries / Söldner
(B K P)
Saudi has become forced to recruit the army for Yemen war
Heavy humanitarian losses in the Saudi military and its affiliated militias, as well as the financial strain on the Saudi economy, have led the country to implement a forced recruitment plan.
“In the wake of the defeat in confrontation with the Yemeni army and popular committees, Saudi Arabia has tried to recruit more African mercenaries from Sudan, Eritrea, the Comoros, etc., to fight in place of the Saudi troops but when the dead bodies of these military troops returned to their country, their families condemned the regimes ruling their countries that slaughter their children in the Yemeni holocaust. And today, the Al Saud regime facing this economic and human failure, has become forced to recruit the forces in a way that the economic hardship faced by the Saudi nation is in the best interests of its military situation.
Yemeni website has stated: Based on military and media data, the Al Saud regime after losing thousands of mercenaries and hundreds of troops during the year 2017 in a conflict with Yemen, has started forced recruitment and the aggressive forces against Yemen are facing a severe shortage of warrior troops, therefore, they are trying to compensate for this dearth.
Remark: By a pro-Houthi site.
cp13c Kulturerbe / Cultural heritage
Siehe / Look at cp1
cp13d Wirtschaft / Economy
(A E P)
Yemen stops paying its debts to Russia
Russian Deputy Finance Minister Sergei Storchak said on Friday that Yemen had stopped paying debts owed to Russia.
"It is clear that the possibility of paying in Yemen has changed, it was a good debtor and it was paid regularly even after the start of combat operations, but now it has stopped," Storczak told reporters.
(* B E)
Yemen loses 700 million dollars a year due to the stop of gas exports
Yemen's production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) has been stalled for 33 months because of the nearly three-year-old war, depriving the impoverished country of an annual income of $ 700 million.
Oil sources told Al-Arab Al-Jadid that the Yemeni government's attempts to resume the export of liquefied natural gas (LNG) have failed due to the unstable security situation in the vicinity of Balhaf export terminal.
The Yemeni gas project is managed by a consortium of international companies led by Total, which owns 40% of the project. Hunt owns 17.22% of the project. It is one of the biggest industrial projects in Yemen, estimated at $ 4 billion and a production capacity of 6.9 million Tons of LNG per year.
http://almawqea.net/news/27001#.WmLOcqjiaUl and translated https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=de&sl=ar&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Falmawqea.net%2Fnews%2F27001%23.WmLOcqjiaUl
(A E P)
Yemen central bank to shore up Riyal's exchange rate
Yemen's central bank is planning to gradually rise the exchange rate of the Yemeni Riyal against foreign currencies on a gradual basis, the state-run news agency Saba reported from a meeting the bank convened in Aden on Thursday with business involving in currency trade.
https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-14764
My comment: This is void. The exchange rate cannot be fixed by the government. Nobody will give any dollars for an official rate below market value.
(* B E P)
Saving the Yemeni riyal is great, but the people need to be saved too
While it appears the Yemeni riyal is being saved from the utter collapse by the oil rich neighbour, civilians in Yemen have not been able to avoid the pain of the skyrocketing prices of food commodities. The economic damage to the citizens has been already done, and propping up the riyal does not seem to alleviate the economic ordeal of citizens any time soon.
Today, the price of food commodities have increased or doubled amidst unpaid salaries, prevalent employment and dysfunctional infrastructure.
Food and money have been used as a weapon of war, a matter which has fuelled the conflict and worsened poverty among the people. Yemen's markets are awash with food goods, but they are out of reach for millions of people whose pockets are short of cash.
The ongoing chaos has given room to the manipulators to act as they want whether when it comes to the price of basic commodities or the exchange rate of the currency.
For this move to be viable, the economist has made suggestions. He said gas and oil exportation should resume. In addition, the local resources, donations and funds should be mobilized. On top of that, trust in the banking sector should be restored, Nasr said.
My comment: All this is totally void if the war, the air raids and the blockade will not be stopped.
(A E P)
Today in Sana'a #Yemen wild swings of the USD/YER exchange rate from YER 520 to YER 390 to YER 400 to YER 420 to YER 440 and still going up. All within 24 hours!
https://twitter.com/AukeLootsma/status/953970701505122304
(* A E P)
Jemen: Pro-saudische Regierung vorerst vor Kollaps gerettet
Zwei Milliarden Dollar überweist Saudi-Arabien der jemenitischen Zentralbank nach dem Hilferuf ihrer Verbündeten in Aden.
Zuvor hatte der jemenitische Regierungschef Ahmad bin Daghr über die sozialen Medien erklärt, dass die Landeswährung Riyal - seit Kriegsausbruch vor drei Jahren hat sie mehr als 60 Prozent an Wert verloren - vor dem Zusammenbruch stehe. Außerdem sei die Regierung des ärmsten arabischen Landes nicht mehr in der Lage, die Gehälter der Staatsangestellten zu bezahlen.
Der saudische Botschafter, Muhammad Al Jabir, der seit dem Kriegseintritt seines Landes im März 2015 in der eigenen Hauptstadt Riad residiert, erklärte, die saudische Hilfe käme, um die jemenitische Währung zu stabilisieren und das Leiden der Bevölkerung unter den schweren wirtschaftlichen Bedingungen, an denen die Huthi-Rebellen schuld seien, zu lindern.
Dabei ist Saudi-Arabien als mächtigste Kriegspartei maßgeblich für eine der größten humanitären Katastrophen der letzten Jahrzehnte verantwortlich.
Für noch schlimmere Zahlen sorgt die wirtschaftliche Blockade, die Saudi-Arabien und seine Verbündeten dem Land aufzwingen, um eine angebliche Bewaffnung der Huthis durch Iran zu verhindern.
http://www.dw.com/de/jemen-pro-saudische-regierung-vorerst-vor-kollaps-gerettet/a-42212524
(* A E P)
Saudi-Arabien stellt zwei Milliarden Dollar
Um den Zusammenbruch der Währung Rial zu verhindern, sagt die saudische Regierung dem Jemen eine milliardenschwere Finanzspritze zu. Im arabischen Staat grassiert der Bürgerkrieg. Die Landeswährung hat stark gelitten.
Der jemenitische Rial hat die Hälfte seines Wertes verloren, seit das saudisch-geführte Militärbündnis im März 2015 auf der Seite der Regierung in den Bürgerkrieg gegen die Huthi-Rebellen eingetreten ist. Die Preise für Lebensmittel und Treibstoff stiegen dramatisch an.
und
(A E P)
Erst bomben, dann zahlen
In der größten humanitären Krise der Gegenwart im Jemen sind Millionen krank oder vom Hungertod bedroht - auch wegen der Luftangriffe einer saudischen Koalition. Nun stützt die Kriegspartei das Land mit einer beispiellosen Summe.
https://www.sz-online.de/nachrichten/erst-bomben-dann-zahlen-3861817.html
Mein Kommentar: Die Schlagzeile bringt es auf den Punkt. – Die Summe ist freilich nicht besonders “beispiellos”. Sie entspricht gerade einmal ca. 1 % der bisherigen Kosten für den saudischen Luftkrieg gegen den Jemen.
(* A E P)
Currency rise raises hopes in war-torn Yemen
A sharp rise in the currency of war-torn Yemen on Thursday following a $2-billion Saudi bailout sparked hope of relief for millions at risk of famine and reliant on imported food.
For more than a year, the government has been unable to pay salaries and the riyal has more than halved in value against the dollar, leaving Yemenis unable to afford food staples and bottled water.
But after Saudi Arabia announced a massive cash injection in the central bank, the Yemeni currency rose 16 percent against the dollar on Thursday.
Money changers across the country - including in the rebel-held capital Sanaa and the government bastion of Aden - reported the dollar trading at between 420 and 450 riyals on Thursday.
The Saudi-backed government has now capped the exchange rate against the dollar at 390 riyals, but money changers across the country appeared to have turned a blind eye.
https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2018/1/19/currency-rise-raises-hopes-in-war-torn-yemen
My comment: I fear this will not stay for long.
(* A E P)
After US$2B Saudi deposit yesterday, Central Bank in Aden fixes USD$1 buy/sell rate at 390/396 #Yemen riyals. The market is not heeding it: I exchanged US$100 in Sanaa today for 45,300 riyals.
https://twitter.com/BaFana3/status/953930445682601985
Summing up the #Yemen Aden-run Central Bank disaster.
https://twitter.com/BaFana3/status/953946263464173568 (text in image)
Lesson : This is what happens when you put idiots in charge of Yemen's central bank.
https://twitter.com/BaFana3/status/953944690738507776
(A E P)
Yemeni Government Expedites Efforts to Save National Currency
The Yemeni riyal rates continued to plummet against foreign currencies, putting both the internationally recognized legitimate government and Houthi coup militias alike in the dilemma of seeking to salvage a far too damaged situation, Yemeni experts said.
Government spokesman Rajih Badi said that efforts are underway to contain currency rate deterioration, and renewed official statements accusing the Houthi militias of looting national cash reserves.
Badi pointed towards documented information on Iranian attempts to print counterfeit Yemeni currency to the coup’s benefit.
Badi had said earlier that “the presidency of the Republic, the Council of Ministers, Central Bank and the competent state organs, are making extraordinary efforts to develop effective solutions to stop the unacceptable exchange rates deterioration”.
My comment: The main problems for the Yemeni currency are the breakdown of the economy due to the war (and it’s mainly the Saudi air raids which have destructed the infrastructure) and Hadi’s installation of a concurrent Central Bank at Aden. – Thus, even if the Sanaa Central bank would have ordered the printing of currency abroad, for instance in Iran (no information on this), this would not be “forgery”.
and
(A E P)
Gov't taking measures to stop Riyal devaluation, spokesman Badi says
The Yemeni government's spokesman Rajeh Badi said on Monday that the government is taking "exception measures" to stop the depreciation of the Yemeni Riyal.
The militia used the amount in addition to two trillion Yemeni Rials that had been in the Central Bank( in Sana'a "in currency speculations "which led to the decline of the Riyal's value until today.
https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-14687
My comment: Oh, now it should be “currency speculations” by the Houthis. The simply reasons for the currency devaluation are a taboo – they mostly are fault of Hadi and the Saudi coalition (see above).
(* B E P)
The main reasons for currency depreciation of Yemeni riyal vs. dollar
The Yemeni riyal has lost more than 50 percent of its value
With the continuation of the Saudi aggression on Yemen and the blockade imposed by air, land and sea, the seizure of all the sovereign importation of the country and the prevention of its access to the Central Bank in Sana’a, especially after the transfer of the bank to Aden and the systematic looting operation by the tools of occupation in Aden as a kind of brutal economic war against the Yemeni people, the Yemeni riyal fall to its lowest level after nearly two months after the central bank’s decision in Aden to float the local currency.
In addition to the increasing demand from traders on the hard currency, especially the dollar to cover the bill of goods and fuel and the situation of speculation on foreign exchange under the decline in money supply due to economic stagnation and the cessation of investments.
http://www.newnewss.net/1911-2/
(A E P)
Reminder from 2015: Fact : About US$5B of Saudi & Qatar sovereign guarantees at #Yemen's Central Bank have propped up the Yemeni riyal's stability since 2012.
https://twitter.com/BaFana3/status/562931887434629121
And now: Didn't help then. Won't help now.
https://twitter.com/BaFana3/status/953733496173932546
Film: YR 160 million was smuggled from Aden to Houthi's leader in al-Bayda
https://twitter.com/YemenForEver12/status/953973601836896256
cp14 Terrorismus / Terrorism
(B T)
Proof USA gov knows we're supporting ISIS: Saudi Arabia was identified in a leaked email to Podesta as providing "clandestine," "financial and logistic" aid to ISIS and other "radical Sunni groups." (image, link)
https://twitter.com/teddy_cat1/status/954547631467974656
Comment: This document shows that USA knew that KSA and Qatar were funding ISIS groups. Though not just them. A court case in U.K. tried a British man who had returned from Syria - he was accused of fighting in a 'terrorist' group but when it was demonstrated that UK supplied that same group with weapons the case was quietly dropped.
https://www.facebook.com/judith.brown.794628/posts/10156308357433641
(A T)
#AlQaeda #Yemen: Ansar al-Shari'a al-Bayda' issue video of clashes with Houthis. Lots of group singing, Allahu Akbar yelling & gunfire but little sign of combat & no more than 12 jihadists. Like other recent videos, dated a month ago so implies tougher comms for #AQAP these days (photos)
https://twitter.com/Dr_E_Kendall/status/954072477252177920
https://twitter.com/MaherFarrukh/status/954078199620755456
(A T)
AQAP militants killed an al Houthi supplier in Damt district, al Dhaleh governorate, central Yemen on January 17. AQAP militants also damaged the supplier’s facility near the border of al Dhaleh, al Bayda, and Ibb governorates.[4]
(A T)
#AQAP released a 37 min video on spies & counterintelligence, emphasizing the main reason why counterterrorism operations against the group are successful is the "incapability to be able to preserve secrets...the best of people are killed just because of our carelessness." (photos)
https://twitter.com/MaherFarrukh/status/953775502464110592
and more
https://twitter.com/Dr_E_Kendall/status/953726746813255680
https://twitter.com/Dr_E_Kendall/status/953730877170864128
https://twitter.com/Dr_E_Kendall/status/953734188016046081
(A T)
#AQAP official Abu Baraa al Ibbi (reportedly the former judge of AQAP's Sharia court in #Taiz) released a eulogy for his companion/assistant killed in a reported U.S. airstrike on 12 JAN in northwestern al Bayda, central #Yemen. (image)
https://twitter.com/MaherFarrukh/status/953769792145707008
(A T)
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) militants ambushed al Houthi forces in Wald Rabi’ district, al Bayda governorate, central Yemen on January 16. AQAP fights alongside local tribal forces in northwestern al Bayda to gain local support.[4]
cp15 Propaganda
(A P)
Hadi praises Saudi stance by Yemen's side
President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi has praised the generous Saudi support to Yemen and kingdom's stance by Yemen's side on all levels and at all circumstances.
In a meeting in Riyadh on Saturday with the Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed Al Jaber the official in charge of Yemen's reconstruction, Hadi said: "The Kingdom is by Yemen's side in peace and war in the face of the enemies of the nation as made evident through the Decisive Storm and Hope Restoration operations."
http://www.sabanew.net/viewstory.php?id=27903
My comment: “Hadi praises Saudi”: That is one of his main jobs.
(A P)
Yemeni expats in Saudi Arabia welcome $2bn donation to homeland
Yemenis living in Saudi Arabia have expressed their gratitude to King Salman for the $2 billion donation he ordered on Wednesday to Yemen’s Central Bank in an attempt to bail out Yemen’s struggling economy as well as to alleviate the suffering of people in the war-torn country.
Commending the king’s decision, several Yemeni people told Arab News that the gesture reaffirms the strong friendship between their country and Saudi Arabia.
http://www.arabnews.com/node/1229446/saudi-arabia
(A P)
We will never abandon our Arab brothers in Yemen
Al Houthi militias have brought chaos and ruin to Yemen, and have wrecked the economy there
For more than 30 months now, an international coalition led by Saudi Arabia has been fighting Al Houthi militias in Yemen that overthrew the legitimate and internationally recognised government of President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi. That coalition is acting on resolutions from the United Nations Security Council, and the UAE is proud to be playing a leading role in ensuring that Yemen is returned to peace and our Arab brothers enjoy stability and security now.
But fiscally too, things are difficult in Yemen. Given the chaos caused when the legitimate government and its administration was simply swept aside and ripped apart by the Iranian-backed militias, the economy is near collapse.
Our Arab brothers in Yemen have never been forgotten and can rest assured that in their hours and times of greatest need, they are not alone.
http://gulfnews.com/opinion/editorials/we-will-never-abandon-our-arab-brothers-in-yemen-1.2159742
My comment: And telling the Hadi government Central Bank fairy tale. – If you really want to see “chaos and ruin to Yemen“, look at the Saudi coalition’s nightmare in Yemen: http://poorworld.net/YemenWar.htm (scroll down to 3. Part)
(A P)
CNN Exclusive: Was Iran behind the ballistic missile fired by #Yemen's Houthi rebels? @nicrobertsoncnn inspects the rocket up close at this Saudi military base.
https://twitter.com/CNNConnect/status/953709893126467584
My comment: This is how US bullshit TV propaganda (here: parroting what Saudi propaganda tells) – disguised as “news” looks and sounds like. Enjoy the almost breathless way this propaganda parrot speaks to give more emphasis to his story.
(A P)
Rising Yemen currency sparks hope of relief for millions
A sharp rise in the currency of war-torn Yemen Thursday following a $2 billion Saudi bailout sparked hope of relief for millions at risk of famine and reliant on imported food.
But after Saudi Arabia announced a massive cash injection in the central bank, the Yemeni currency rose 16 percent against the dollar on Thursday.
Riyadh's decision Wednesday to transfer $2 billion to the central bank to boost the riyal followed a desperate plea for help by Yemen's president and prime minister.
"As the value of the riyal goes up, the living conditions of Yemeni citizens will change for the better," the Saudi information ministry said.
My comment: This is odd propaganda, echoed by a British media. The horrific economiuc and humanitarian situation is not due to a currency problem, but due to war and blockade. This money transfer will not solve it, the Saudi statement is almost cynical. This seems to parrot Saudi media:
(A P)
Saudi Deposit Rescues the Collapsing Yemeni Riyal
The "sudden decline" in the Yemeni rial on Wednesday, slowed down following the announcement of the Saudi deposit of two billion dollars. As soon as the announcement was made, price of the Yemeni currency rial jumped about 15 percent against the US dollar, several bankers told Asharq Al-Awsat.
Most of the exchange and money transfer companies in Sanaa resumed their business. Ibrahim, an employee at a famous exchange company in the center of Sanaa, said that following the announcement of the Saudi deposit, the deterioration of the riyal exchange rate declined significantly.
https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1147536/saudi-deposit-rescues-collapsing-yemeni-riyal
My comment: “rescues”. Whow. Yemen’s economy is on the ground – for a great part, thanks to the Saudi war. This money certainly can affect little: The Yemeni currency will sink again.
(A P)
An important message from Yemen’s legitimate Prime Minister
“For the Face of Allah, and for a faithful brothership, if there is common of interest among Allies that requires being preserved, and may reach the level of the noble goals of the decisive storm. The first one of it and the essential part is saving the Yemeni Riyal from the total collapse, now before tomorrow. Saving the Riyal means saving Yemenis from absolute hunger” said Bin Daghar.
Due to the economy deteriorating, the light voices who call for a ceasefire and de facto authority may increase tomorrow. The world will hear it and it will form strong pressure against the legitimacy, the coalition and may change the international community position on the crisis in Yemen since then we have to bear what would happen after.
In a total harmony with the decisive, coalition and brothers, we have made efforts and we took our souls into our hands to reinstate the state, defeat the enemy, to confront terrorism and to maintain the republican country united.
https://nationalyemen.com/2018/01/17/an-important-message-from-yemens-legitimate-prime-minister/
My comment: A ceasefire would be something awful for him – let this sack in!!!
(A P)
Al-Odeini tells EU official Islah party supports political solution
He said that the solution should be based on the outcomes of the historical National Dialogue Conference, the GCC Brokered Agreement and the UN resolutions on Yemen including resolution no. 2216.
He said that peace is a priority to the party as the Houthis have waged their war, first, on the state and, second, on the political process.
https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-14689
My comment: Muslim Brotherhood Islah Party following Hadi’s “peace” folly including the reference to Hadi’s peace blockers.
(A P)
Yemen President Hadi: Houthis are Bloody Group Leading Proxy Warfare
Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi accused on Tuesday the Houthi militia of being incapable of “understanding the concept of peace,” describing it as “bloodthirsty” group leading a proxy war, in reference to its dependence on Iran.
He made his remarks while meeting with UN Envoy to Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed in Riyadh.
The Houthis are incapable of understanding peace, have disregarded all international efforts to achieve peace, he continued.
“We have made every possible concession in order to stop bloodshed,” Hadi added, pointing out to the Houthis’ killing of their former ally, former President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
Hadi said that the coup militia neither recognizes peace references nor the relevant International Security Council resolutions, reported the Yemen news agency Saba.
“They do not care about the Yemeni people’s suffering. They have taken control of the nation's resources and reserves of the Yemeni Central Bank to finance their war, violating human rights and abducting and recruiting children to fight their own absurd proxy warfare against the Yemeni people.”
The president reiterated that he has always been very keen to make peace as it is his own national and humanitarian responsibility as a leader of the country.
My comment: Odd Hadi propaganda again. If you want to speak of proxy warfare in Yemen, then look at Saudi Arabia and the US. For instance read https://www.army.mil/article/199012
(A P)
Houthi militia cause 613 casualties in Yemen over 40 days, Yemeni government reports
Yemen’s Ministry of Human Rights documented the killing or wounding of some 613 civilians in recent weeks by Houthi militia, SABA News reported yesterday.
Between 1 December, 2017 and 10 January, 2018, 318 civilians were killed, including eight women and 14 children. A further 295 were wounded, including six women and 17 children.
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180117-houthi-militia-cause-613-casualties-in-yemen-over-40-days-yemeni-government-reports/ and https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-14686
My comment: Here placed at “propaganda”, due to the source.
(A P)
Articles of Emirati “We are benefactors” propaganda
http://wam.ae/en/details/1395302661247
http://wam.ae/en/details/1395302661201
http://gulftoday.ae/portal/8547279a-5e62-4101-a6fc-4b59e4acc3eb.aspx
https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/erc-delivers-6-aid-convoys-yemens-yashbam-city
https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/uae-armed-forces-medical-teams-treat-residents-yemen-s-west-coast
and the oddest might-be is this:
(A P)
ERC rebuilds homes in Mocha, Yemen
After the Houthi militias damaged the houses of the people of Mocha and turned them into rubble, the UAE has rushed to their aid after the city’s liberation, via its humanitarian arm, the Emirates Red Crescent, ERC, and launched a project to rebuild the city and local houses.
http://wam.ae/en/details/1395302660766
My comment: That’s what happened to “the houses of the people of Mocha”: Saudi coalition air raid at Mocha: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombing_of_Mokha and https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/07/27/yemen-coalition-strikes-residence-apparent-war-crime and http://poorworld.net/Yemen/YemenImages158.htm (and following)
cp16 Saudische Luftangriffe / Saudi air raids
(* A K PH)
Saudi coalition air raids, day by day:
Jan. 16:
(A K PH)
Film: Targeting the aggression of the mosque and property of citizens in the Directorate of # Haidan # Saada
The American Saudi aggression continues to commit its crimes, targeting houses, mosques and citizens' properties in Al-Jumaa district, Haidan Directorate in Saada Governorate
https://www.facebook.com/Hona.Almasirah/videos/1780941545270235/ = https://twitter.com/Hona_Almasirah/status/954829875105366017
(A K PH)
Man, his wife killed in US-Saudi airstrike on Saada
A man and his wife were killed on Saturday as a result of an airstrike waged by the US-Saudi aggression warplanes on Ghamar area in Razih district of Saada province, a security official told Saba.
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news485308.htm
(A K PH)
Report: 2 civilians killed, injured in 16 Saudi aggression airstrikes, attacks on Yemen during one day
At least a civilian was killed and another injured in 16 US-backed Saudi aggression coalition airstrikes, ground attacks over the past 24 hours on three Yemani provinces and Jizan bordered province, according to reports combined by Saba on Friday.
In northern province of Saada, a civilian was killed and another injured in when the warplanes of aggression launched two strikes on a main road in Razamat area of Safraa district.
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news485211.htm
(* B K)
Film: The devastating impact of air strikes in Yemen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsYYJ1AumCc
(A K PH)
2 civilians injuring 2 airstrike in Jawf
Two civilians were injured when the US-backed Saudi aggression coalition warplanes launched two raids overnight on a shelter aid truck belonging to the Yemeni Sky Foundation on Jawf province, a security official told Saba on Thursday.
The airstrikes hit and burned the truck when it was distributing shelter aids to the displaced people in Barat-Enan district, wounding two distribution workers of shelter materials
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news485112.htm
(A K PH)
Hostile airstrike injures three civilians in Sa'ada
Three civilians were injured on Wednesday in a hostile Saudi airstrike on a farm in Baqem district in Sa'ada province.
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news485107.htm
and film:
https://www.facebook.com/Hona.Almasirah/videos/1777537555610634/ = https://twitter.com/Hona_Almasirah/status/953715683589873664
(A K PH)
Civilian killed, another injured in 2 airstrikes on Saada
A civilian was killed and another injured on Thursday when the US-backed Saudi aggression coalition warplanes launched two raids on Saada province, a security official told Saba.
The airstrikes hit Razamat area of Safraa district.
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news485136.htm
(A K PH)
A picture of the child (Nalha Massaad Ali), who was injured by a cluster bomb explosion from the air of aggression in the Azzoul district of the Department of Sohar yesterday [Jan. 16] 12 years old
(* A K PH)
4 civilians killed in 2 aggression airstrikes in Taiz
Four civilians were killed on Wednesday when the US-backed Saudi aggression coalition launched two airstrikes on Makha district of Taiz province, a security official told Saba.
The airstrikes targeted a car in Azuod area, the official added.
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news485078.htm
and
(* A K PH)
See photos of the heinous crime of Aggression by targeting a truck in Al-Mazah in Taiz
Photos of the heinous crime committed by the Saudi Arabian Air Adon by targeting a truck that killed 4 martyrs in Al-Azyoud area in Al-Mukha Directorate in Taiz Governorate
http://www.yamanyoon.com/?p=98468
https://www.facebook.com/SaudiArabia.war.crimes.against.Yemen/posts/1768124240150229
film: https://www.facebook.com/Hona.Almasirah/videos/1777552435609146/ = https://twitter.com/narrabyee/status/953842256565465088 = https://twitter.com/Hona_Almasirah/status/953723455790288898
(A K P)
More air strikes recorded on:
Jan. 20:
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news485353.htm Marib prov.
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news485348.htm Hajjah prov.
Jan. 19:
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news485254.htm Marib prov.
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news485252.htm Saada prov.
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news485212.htm Saada prov.
Jan. 18:
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news485203.htm Taiz prov.
cp17 Kriegsereignisse / Theater of War
Siehe cp1 (Landminen) / Look at cp1 (Land mines)
(* A K PH)
Film: Attacks of the warships on the fishing boats
Attacks on the warships on the fishing boats 20-01-2018
Boldness and arrogance advanced by one of the warships of the aggression by attacking one of the boats of simple fishermen who were on board their boat fishing west of the islands in the Yemeni territorial waters
https://www.facebook.com/Hona.Almasirah/videos/1780947798602943/ = https://twitter.com/Hona_Almasirah/status/954831602772840450
My comment: Security of shipping in the Red Sea, Saudi style.
(* A K PS)
100 Houthis killed, 34 others detained in a week
The statistics released by the Yemeni army, Friday, stated that at least 100 members of the Houthi militia were killed in clashes that took place in Kataf Al Baq’e front in the province of Saada, their main stronghold north of the country, within a week.
The numbers confirmed that four field commanders were among the dead Houthis.
Remark: Claimed by the pro-Saudi Hadi army.
(A K)
Yemen's Houthis fire ballistic missile toward Saudi Arabia
Yemen’s Houthi movement fired a ballistic missile toward the southern Saudi province of Najran on Saturday, the group’s official al-Masirah TV reported, and a Saudi military spokesman said air defense forces had intercepted the missile.
The TV channel said the short-range missile targeted a military base. There were no reports of casualties or damage.
and
(* A K PS)
Coalition Forces Supporting Legitimacy in Yemen: RSADF Intercept, Destroy Ballistic Missile Targeting Najran City
Official Spokesman of the Coalition Forces Supporting Legitimacy in Yemen Colonel Turki Al-Maliki said in a statement today that "At 12:38 p.m. today, the Air Defense Forces affiliated to the Coalition have detected a ballistic missile launched by Iran-affiliated Houthi militias from Saada Governorate towards the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."
Al-Maliki also said that the missile was directed to Najran City in order to deliberately target civilian and populated areas. The missile was intercepted and destroyed by the Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces (RSADF), Al-Maliki added.
The Official Spokesman also said "This hostile action by Iran-supported Houthi group proves the continued involvement of the Iranian regime in supporting the Houthi armed group with qualitative capabilities, in a clear and explicit defiance and violation of UN Resolutions No. 2216 and No. 2231 in order to threaten the security of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the regional and international security. Firing ballistic missiles towards populated cities and villages is contrary to the international humanitarian law.
http://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=1711605
My comment: With the Saudi standard propaganda. – Iran has nothing to do with all that. – And: “Firing ballistic missiles towards populated cities and villages is contrary to the international humanitarian law”: Oh how true. But Saudi-Arabia is firing daily air raids “towards populated cities and villages” – daily, since more than 1000 days, with extremely much more deadly effects than all Houthi missiles did. And??
And
(* A K PH)
This is where Yemen ballistic missile hit today in Najran south of Saudi Arabia. The pictures were circulated by Saudi activists after the launch of the missile on the Najran Force military base This is 6th ballistic missile fired by Yemenis on Saudi mainland since Jan1, 2018
https://twitter.com/narrabyee/status/954700989973581824
(A K PH)
Big news if confirmed: #Yemeni forces kill Darfur killer & Sudanese forces commander in #Yemen Abdullah Mohamed Saleh & other senior Sudanese officers in an ambush.
https://twitter.com/AliAlAhmed_en/status/954461592036560896 referring to https://t.co/WLr10mVjZe
(A K)
Al Houthi forces launched two ballistic missiles at Saudi-led coalition and Hadi government forces. Al Houthi forces fired a Zilzal-1 missile at coalition-backed forces in Yakhtul, Taiz governorate, western Yemen on January 17 and a short-range missile at a Saudi air defense camp in Najran, southwestern Saudi Arabia on January 18, according to al Houthi-affiliated media. Saudi air defenses reportedly intercepted both missiles.[2]
(A K PS)
UAE's Armed Forces destroy a Houthi command centre in Yemen's Hais district
The destruction of the command centre will severely impact communication among the rebels, reports WAM
The UAE Armed Forces in the Arab coalition fighting on behalf of the internationally recognised government of Yemen destroyed a command centre of the Houthi rebels in the Hais district.
The Iran-backed group stored weapons and ammunition in the centre, which was strategically located to serve the fighters stationed in different parts of the district, reported UAE’s state news agency, Wam, on Wednesday.
“It’s destruction will severely impact communication among the fighters,” said the report.
“The operation was executed with the support of the coalition forces in support of the legitimate government of Yemen.”
Remark: As claimed by the Emirates. – On the West coast, Hodeodah province.
(* A K PS)
Houthis kill four civilians in Taiz, one by sniper shooting
Houthis have killed four civilians in Taiz on Tuesday, three by rocket shelling and one by sniper shooting in a separate incident.
https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-14685
(A K PS)
HRITC calls on UN to save Taiz villages from Houthi atrocities
https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-14688
My comment: Simply stop the war.
cp18 Sonstiges / Other
(* B H K)
Trapped in Yemen: one man's astonishing fight to get home to America
On a business trip to Yemen in 2015, Californian Mokhtar Alkhanshali was stranded when civil war broke out. Abandoned by his government and the airport bombed, he was forced to find his own way home …
In the spring of 2015, I met Mokhtar Alkhanshali outside the Blue Bottle Coffee headquarters in Oakland, California. He had just returned from Yemen, having narrowly escaped with his life. An American citizen, Mokhtar was abandoned by his government and left to evade Saudi bombs and Houthi rebels. He had no means to leave. The airports had been destroyed and the roads out of the country were impassable. There were no evacuations planned, no assistance provided. The United States state department had stranded thousands of Yemeni Americans, who were forced to devise their own means of fleeing a blitzkrieg – tens of thousands of US-made bombs dropped on Yemen by the Saudi air force. The way Mokhtar escaped was brazen and astonishing, but was only the last in a series of remarkable leaps of courage and self-invention that Mokhtar had made in a few short years.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/jan/20/us-citizen-trapped-yemen-dave-eggers
(* A )
Oil tanker explodes off Yemen
Fire raged on a French oil tanker off the coast of Yemen today after an explosion, and officials variously said they suspected a leak of crude or an attack by a boat laden with explosives.
A senior French diplomat in Yemen said it was too early to tell whether the blast that ripped through the Limburg off the southeastern port of Mina al-Dabah in the Gulf of Aden had been an accident or not.
"It is too soon to say anything. So far, there are many contradictory reports. It could be that a small ship with explosives collided with the tanker. Maybe something happened, it is too early," Vice Consul Marcel Goncalves told Reuters.
"The ship is burning and sinking."
Yemeni officials said 11 of the 25 crew had been rescued so far.
The French military attache in Yemen, identified as Colonel Vial, told France's LCI television: "This explosion occurred at the same moment as a small boat approached the tanker, which could indicate it is not an accidental explosion."
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-141457/Oil-tanker-explodes-Yemen.html
(* B H)
Zwischen Ungewissheit und Zuversicht
Obwohl sich die Arabische Welt in einer fundamentalen Krise und Umbruchsituation befindet, blickt die Mehrzahl der Jugendlichen und jungen Erwachsenen im Nahen Osten und Nordafrika zuversichtlich in die Zukunft. Das hat eine Studie ergeben.
Im Sommer und Winter 2016/2017 wurden den Autoren zufolge knapp 9000 junge Menschen zwischen 16 und 30 Jahren für die Studie „Zwischen Ungewissheit und Zuversicht“ befragt. Die Umfragen und Interviews wurden in acht Ländern im Nahen Osten und Nordafrika durchgeführt, darunter Marokko, Tunesien, Ägypten, Bahrain und Jemen.
Selbst in Ägypten und Tunesien – das als Musterland des sogenannten Arabischen Frühlings gilt – sprechen sich nur noch knapp über 50 Prozent der Befragten für ein demokratisches System aus.
In Marokko, Jordanien und im Jemen sind es sogar nur etwas mehr als 20 Prozent der Befragten. Stattdessen wünschen sich auch viele einen starken Mann an der Spitze des Staates oder präferieren, wie in Jordanien (18 Prozent) oder dem Jemen (17 Prozent), einen religiösen Staat auf der Grundlage der Scharia.
Denn gefragt nach den Werten, die den jungen Menschen in der Arabischen Welt wichtig sind, antwortete ein Großteil: die Familie. Hinzu komme die Religion, wie die 28-jährige Afrah aus dem kriegsgeschüttelten Jemen erzählt:
http://www.sn-online.de/Thema/Specials/Spezial/SNack/Uebersicht/Zwischen-Ungewissheit-und-Zuversicht
(* B H)
Inventor aims for healthier Yemen by turning waste into clean fuel
Now the chemical engineering graduate hopes a small-scale biogas system he has invented can tackle unhealthy indoor pollution in his war-torn country.
Last February, the 24-year-old was among a group of Hadramout University students designing a landfill in Mukalla City, a port on the Gulf of Aden.
Realising that recovering biogas from the landfill would take several years and serve only one city, Badokhon set himself the challenge of coming up with micro-scale plants for individual urban and rural homes.
The goal was to provide them with clean cooking fuel, lighting and organic fertilizer, while reducing the trash heaped up on city streets that has helped spread cholera.
(* C)
Yemen: Declassified
Documents
Yemen and Aden, 1962-5 (Mark Curtis files from the National Archives)
Articles
Mark Curtis, The covert war in Yemen, 1962-70 (Extract from Unpeople, 2004)
‘GCHQ documents raise fresh questions over UK complicity in US drone strikes’ (Guardian, 24 June 2015)
‘The International History of the Yemen Civil War, 1962-1968’ (Asher Orkaby, Harvard University, 2014)
http://markcurtis.info/2018/01/19/yemen-declassified/
Vorige / Previous:
https://www.freitag.de/autoren/dklose/jemenkrieg-mosaik-377-yemen-war-mosaic-377
Jemenkrieg-Mosaik 1-377 / Yemen War Mosaic 1-377:
https://www.freitag.de/autoren/dklose oder / or http://poorworld.net/YemenWar.htm
Der saudische Luftkrieg im Bild / Saudi aerial war images:
(18 +, Nichts für Sensible!) / (18 +; Graphic!)
http://poorworld.net/YemenWar.htm
http://yemenwarcrimes.blogspot.de/
und alle Liste aller Luftangriffe / and list of all air raids:
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