... Angriff der Huthis auf Marib gefährdet Zivilisten – und mehr
Feb. 23, 2021: In Yemen 'Diplomacy is Back.' What Next? – Yemen Humanitarian Needs Overview 2021 – Killing by torture in Yemen – Freedom of Expression in Yemen 2020 – Houthi assault on Marib endangers civilians – and more
Schwerpunkte / Key aspects
Kursiv: Siehe Teil 2 / In Italics: Look in part 2: https://www.freitag.de/autoren/dklose/jemenkrieg-mosaik-720b-yemen-war-mosaic-720b
Klassifizierung / Classification
Für wen das Thema ganz neu ist / Who is new to the subject
cp1 Am wichtigsten / Most important
cp1a Am wichtigsten: Coronavitrus und Seuchen / Most important: Coronavirus and epidemics
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 Separatisten und Hadi-Regierung im Südjemen / Separatists and Hadi government in Southern Yemen
cp7 UNO und Friedensgespräche / UN and peace talks
cp8 Saudi-Arabien / Saudi Arabia
cp8a Jamal Khashoggi
cp9 USA
cp9a USA-Iran Krise: Spannungen am Golf / US-Iran crisis: Tensions at the Gulf
cp10 Großbritannien / Great Britain
cp11 Deutschland / Germany
cp12 Andere Länder / Other countries
cp12b Sudan
cp13a Waffenhandel / Arms trade
cp13b Kulturerbe / Cultural heritage
cp14 Terrorismus / Terrorism
cp15 Propaganda
cp16 Saudische Luftangriffe / Saudi air raids
cp17 Kriegsereignisse / Theater of War
cp18 Kampf um Hodeidah / Hodeidah battle
cp19 Sonstiges / Other
Klassifizierung / Classification
***
**
*
(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
Für wen das Thema ganz neu ist / Who is new to the subject
Ältere einführende Artikel u. Überblicke für alle, die mit den Ereignissen im Jemen noch nicht vertraut sind, hier:
Yemen War: Older introductory articles, overviews, for those who are still unfamiliar with the Yemen war here:
https://www.freitag.de/autoren/dklose/jemenkrieg-einfuehrende-artikel-u-ueberblicke
cp1 Am wichtigsten / Most important
(** B P)
In Yemen 'Diplomacy is Back.' What Next? | Opinion
After a quarter of a million deaths, 3 million displaced, widespread war crimes and more than half a lost decade of conflict, President Joe Biden has declared "diplomacy is back" in Yemen.
As welcome as this is, it has a different ring to it in Sana'a and Aden than in D.C.–where many senior foreign policy advisers to Biden were, six years ago, in similar posts in the Obama administration lending support to the Saudi-led war.
As United Nations Special Envoy to Yemen, I was in Sana'a at that time facilitating negotiations on a power-sharing agreement to end a Houthis takeover and prevent a full-blown civil war.
After 10 painful weeks, a compromise was found–covering the shape of the executive and legislature, security arrangements and a timetable for transition. A deal was on the table. The U.N. Security Council was briefed and I was in discussions with Saudi officials regarding the venue for a signing ceremony.
Two days later, with no warning, the airstrikes began. From my hotel window, I watched the ruthless destruction of one of the oldest cities in the world.
A U.N. Security Council resolution provided cover for the horrors that followed. Drafted by the Saudis, it was rushed through the organ tasked with ensuring international peace by the U.S., Britain and France. Their Gulf ally needed placating, following an Iranian nuclear deal forged behind their back.
It must have seemed a fair diplomatic trade-off. Demanding the surrender of the advancing Houthis to a government living in chic hotel-exile in Riyadh was preposterous, but irrelevant: The Russians would surely derail the resolution.
They miscalculated.
Sensing an opportunity for them also to profit through business deals with Saudi Arabia, Moscow waved it through. Today this unworkable accident remains the basis for all the mediation pursued by the U.N. The past six years show it failed.
The first task of American diplomacy must be to replace the template. Washington should promote a new Security Council resolution, providing a different structure for a negotiated process that ensures a seat for every side in the conflict.
To start, this must include the Houthis. However repressive and reprehensible the role they have played, they remain powerful: hundreds of billions in weapons sales to the Saudis later and they control more than half the country, and today are still advancing.
It also means including Al-Islah, the Yemeni version of the Muslim Brotherhood. There will be those who will say such peace negotiations merely serve to legitimize both. But mediators necessarily need space to engage with all sides, including controversial actors and groups.
Peace is made with enemies, not friends.
Those the West would describe as the latter must be encouraged to return to the areas under their control in Yemen. To be at the table does not mean by phone from luxury exile; it requires being present.
Neither can a new cast of warlords and armed groups, including UAE funded separatists in the south, who emerged during this war be ignored–nor those profiting from the conflict with no interest in cessation.
The political spectrum in Yemen is more diverse and segmented than ever before. Besides traditional parties and armed factions, there are also democratic youth and liberal women groups. They too must be included.
Such a process would not be to reinvent the wheel. Yemenis have already seen what a full-spectrum, local-led process should look like during the 2013-14 national dialogue conference.
It took all political players six months of preparations and 10 months of deliberations to agree on a blueprint for democratic governance, shortly followed by a draft constitution, which was equally developed though an inclusive process. Only a similarly consensual way forward can bring peace now.
To develop consensus between such disparate parties in the talks that now must come, America cannot dictate proceedings. It may be human nature to try to right a wrong, but the U.S. should not lead from the front.
They must act as cajolers, bringing parties to the table and there, those seated will find no shortage of Yemeni dignitaries with ties to every side. They can help all adversaries to meet and seek compromise as they have done traditionally in Yemen for thousands of years.
It is time for the Yemeni political elites to take responsibility, stop relying on and blaming the same foreigners for all their ills. They have all contributed to varying degrees to the demise of what once was a promising country.
As I stated in my final report to the Security Council in April 2015: "Yemenis should be afforded the opportunity to determine their future free from interference and coercion from outside forces." This is still true today.
No one can deny it is good news that the U.S. is ending military support for the Saudi-led war on Yemen. We must hope that Britain and France follow suit. But that alone will not stop the fighting or bring peace – by Jamal Benomar, the former United Nations special envoy for Yemen 2011-15
https://www.newsweek.com/yemen-diplomacy-back-what-next-opinion-1570291
Comment by Radhya Almutawakel: This unworkable accident remains the basis for all the mediation pursued by the U.N.The past 6 years show it failed.The first task of American diplomacy must be to replace the template.Washington should promote a new Security Council resolution.
https://twitter.com/RAlmutawakel/status/1363496067904532481
(** B H K)
Yemen Humanitarian Needs Overview 2021 (February 2021)
Context and Impact of the Crisis
Yemen remains the world’s largest humanitarian crisis and aid operation. The crisis is the result of a brutal armed conflict that escalated six years ago. It has killed and injured tens of thousands of civilians, causing immense suffering for the Yemeni people. In 2020, the conflict intensified, the number of frontlines increased from 33 to 49, and 172,000 people were displaced, bringing the number of Internally Displaced People (IDPs) to at least 4 million.
The economy and the currency continued to collapse as foreign reserves were depleted and the government was unable to subsidize food and other commodities for which Yemen is 90 per cent import-reliant. The situation was exacerbated by the global COVID-19 turndown which led to a sharp drop in remittances – the largest source of foreign currency and a lifeline for many families where 80 per cent of people live below the poverty line. As a result, millions more people cannot afford to meet their basic needs. A fuel crisis in the north, part of a dispute over the use of revenues, led to fuel shortages and price hikes. Government capacity to regularly pay salaries and pensions to public employees has been hindered and public services have been degraded.
Yemen is also vulnerable to natural hazards.
The impact of the drivers of the crisis is most visible in the growing risk of famine and severe acute malnutrition, disease outbreaks, conflict casualties, forced displacement and reversal of past development gains. In addition, the conduct of the parties to the conflict has had a profound impact on the aid operation – particularly humanitarian access, aid delivery and data collection.
Scope of the Analysis
This Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) analysis covers all 333 districts in Yemen; each has been affected by the humanitarian crisis. The analysis focuses particularly on the needs of IDPs, refugees, asylum seekers and migrants. Particular attention is given to the most vulnerable children, women, men, people with disabilities, older people, and marginalised groups such as the Muhamasheen.
Needs were assessed using the enhanced global Humanitarian Planning Cycle (HPC) approach and the corresponding Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Joint Inter-sector Analysis Framework (JIAF) global guidance which takes a holistic approach to needs and measures severity in Yemen against 15 intersectoral indicators. The reduction in the number of people in need in 2021 does not reflect an improvement in the humanitarian situation but arises from the introduction of the new enhanced methodology and accessible assessments.
Humanitarian Conditions, Severity and People in Need
Based on the 2021 HNO analysis, 20.7 million people – 66 per cent of the population – are estimated to need humanitarian assistance in 2021; 12.1 million people of whom are estimated to be in acute need. These people are facing crisis or worse levels of severity of needs, in obtaining the necessities of life, maintaining their health and wellbeing, and the coping strategies employed just to stay alive.
Food insecurity and malnutrition are the main drivers behind the number of people in need. 16.2 million people will go hungry this year (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Phase 3 or higher). This includes 5 million people facing emergency conditions (IPC Phase 4) and nearly 50,000 who were already experiencing catastrophe conditions (IPC Phase 5). Over 2.25 million cases of children aged 0 to 59 months, and more than a million pregnant and lactating women are projected to suffer from acute malnutrition in the course of 2021. In addition, over 15.4 million people are in need of support to access their basic water and sanitation needs, of whom 8.7 million are in acute need. Yemenis are increasingly forced to resort to negative coping mechanisms in relation to WASH access and behaviours, significantly heightening the risk of malnutrition and increasing WASH-related disease and outbreaks including, cholera and dengue. Protection of civilians remains a priority in Yemen. Some of the highest levels of vulnerability are concentrated in IDP sites where very few services are available.
Expected evolution of the situation over 2021
In 2021 the situation is expected to deteriorate further, and the severity of needs is expected to increase unless there is conflict de-escalation and an improvement in the economy and funding.
https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/yemen-humanitarian-needs-overview-2021-february-2021
Remark by Oxfam: Oxfam is concerned that the methodology behind these figures has changed this year, and that they don’t include communities that are most difficult to reach Yemen.
https://twitter.com/OxfamYemen/status/1364657190661988354
(** B P)
334 detainees died under torture, mostly in Houthi-run prisoners, a report says
Rights Radar, a civil society organization for Human Rights, released a report on cases of death under torture inside prisoners run by the warring parties in Yemen.
The report said it has documented and monitored 271 cases of murder committed under torture in prisons, 205 of which in Houthi-run prisons, 55 in prisons run by the UAE-backed armed formations, 7 by Al-Qaeda, and 4 in prisons controlled by authorities of the legitimate government.
According to the report, most cases took place in the port city of Hodeidah, Sana’a, Aden, and Ibb governorates
“Regarding the geographic area of murder committed under torture in prisons, Al-Hodeidah came first with 43 cases, and then Amanat Al-Asimah, Sana’a, came second with 38 cases. After that, Aden came third with 33 cases and Ibb came fourth with 32 cases,” the report said.
The report indicated that 10 children and 3 women were of those who were killed under torture inside prisoners.
The Netherlands-based organization asserted in its 60-page report that 28 cases died in prisons due to deliberate medical negligence.
“The number of victims of this type of abuses reached 28 cases between only two parties, including 25 cases committed by Houthi militia and three cases committed by UAE-backed armed formations,” the report said.
https://republicanyemen.net/archives/27293
and full report: https://rightsradar.org/media/pdf/reports/Yemen%20Killing%20by%20Torture.pdf
In case this link does not work: https://rightsradar.org/en/report_details.php?id=34
My comment: Only dealing with torture by the Houthi side, by an anti-Houthi organization. For technical reasons, no excerpts can be given. The sentence: “Decisive Storm began with heavy shelling on the sites of the Houthi militia and forces loyal to Saleh in various governorates of Yemen” is a bad joke.
(** B P)
Annual Report on Freedom of Expression in Yemen 2020
The Yemen-based Media Freedoms Observatory in Yemen launched its annual report on “Freedom of Expression in Yemen in 2020”, which included a comprehensive monitoring of the status of media freedom in Yemen and the violations against media professionals and social media activists during the year. This took place in a symposium in which a number of journalists ,who were subjected to violations during the past year, acted as witnesses to the arbitrary acts practiced against journalists. At the opening of the seminar, in which dozens of journalists and jurists participated via Zoom, Mustafa Nasr reviewed the multiple violations stated in the Freedom of Expression report, which totaled 143, most prominent of which was the killing of 3 journalists, and the issuance of death sentences for 11 journalists during politically motivated trials that lack the simplest legal rules and procedures.
Nasr added that the Observatory tried, through this report, to provide a comprehensive description of the state of media freedoms in Yemen, with a focus on the repercussions of the Coronavirus on journalistic work, the campaign of trials and the killings of journalists during the year. Journalist Hassan Anab – one of the five journalists who were released in the prisoner exchange with the government – also spoke about his kidnapping and the five and a half years he spent in the Houthi prisons, during which he was subjected to enforced disappearance and torture with eight of his colleagues who are still suffering from the effects of torture and are now receiving treatment. He stressed that the efforts made by journalists and human rights organizations, including the Media Freedom Observatory, played a great role in pressuring the Houthi group to take care of their cause despite the arbitrary practices they were subjected to in every media campaign conducted in solidarity with them by journalists and human rights advocates. Another Journalist, Hafsa Aubal, was also subjected to a wide array of harassment, the latest of which was her arrest at Aden airport while traveling outside Yemen, and in the process, she was interrogated , just because her passport showed that she was a journalist. She indicated that she was also subjected to harassment in the Houthi-controlled areas, but, according to her, it is difficult for her to speak out for fear of reprisals, given that she will return to Sana’a at any time.
Journalist Muhammad Al-Yazidi, for his part, spoke about the situation of the press in Hadhramaut in light of the intransigence of the security authorities and the arrest of anyone who dares to criticize or disagree with them. He enumerated a number of violations he was subjected to, including persecution, threats and kidnapping of his sister in an attempt to pressure him to surrender himself, maintaining that he is still separated from his family and home. He further stressed that many journalists have been subjected to harassment and arrests, with their families forced to write pledges not to write again about the situation in the governorate. He indicated that they were even threatened with imprisonment in case they returned.
Journalist Muhammad Al-Hasani, winner of the ARIJ Prize for the best investigative report into the Coronavirus, also spoke about the situation of journalism, which further worsened due to the spread of the Corona epidemic, touching on his own experience as a journalist during the spread of the pandemic. He affirmed that the Corona epidemic did not affect journalists in Yemen only, but also in the Arab world and the world in general, but that the political and security conditions experienced in Yemen, coupled with the lack of information from medical sources, further worsened the situation in the country.
A number of participants in the seminar were unanimous that the situation in the country is difficult due to systematic practices against journalists and the undermining of their independence and freedom by several Influentials.
The Media Freedom Observatory has issued a report on freedom of expression in Yemen, which highlighted 143 violations, including three cases of murder, 11 death sentences against journalists, 7 cases of kidnapping, 10 cases of injury, 11 arrests, 11 cases of assault, 15 cases of threats, and four cases of suspension from work. In addition, there were five cases of violation practiced against media institutions, plus 66 more violations.
The Houthi group topped the list of perpetrators of violations against journalists in Yemen, with 70 of the total cases recorded during the past year; 44 cases of violation committed by parties affiliated with the Yemeni government, 22 violations by unknown persons, three cases committed by parties affiliated with the militants of the Southern Transitional Council, and 4 cases by Influentials.
During the past year, the report said, 37 cases of violation were reported in Al-Jawf city, 30 cases in the capital city of Sana’a, 22 in the city of Taiz, and 17 in Aden. It added that 15 cases of violation were reported during the same year in the city of Hadramout, 10 in the city of Marib, three in Ibb governorate , two each in , and one each in the governorates of Hodeidah, Lahj, Al-Bayda, Socotra, and Abyan.
http://economicmedia.net/en/?p=2687
(** A K)
Yemen's Houthis raise stakes in Marib 'blood bath', sources say
The attack by Iran-aligned Houthi forces on government-held Marib city comes amid renewed diplomacy to end the six-year war, and as the United States said it would end support for a Saudi-led coalition backing the internationally recognised Yemeni government.
The United Nations has urged the Houthis to return to negotiations, and said the offensive threatened mass displacement.
Hundreds of fighters from both sides have been killed in clashes in the gas-rich Marib region, the sources said. They were not authorised to speak publicly about operational matters.
The sources added that the Houthis may have lost more fighters than the government during the offensive, with coalition forces boasting air supremacy.
“It is a blood bath,” said one military source. Two sources said the majority of casualties were fighters, not civilians.
Pro-government defences in Sarwah, to Marib’s west, have collapsed, with the frontline now roughly 20 km (12.4 miles) from the city, according to the sources.
The death toll from the battles of the last three weeks are on a scale not seen since 2018, when Saudi-led coalition forces launched an offensive in the Red Sea coastal area to take Yemen’s biggest port of Hodeidah.
“What Marib is witnessing is part of a national liberation battle, in the face of the continued aggression and blockade,” Abdulsalam said.
Film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsnHnBHOtOY
and
(** A H K)
Crisis in Marib: Averting a Chain Reaction in Yemen
A battle looms for Marib in Yemen’s north, home to some three million people as well as major oil and gas facilities. International actors must stave off a humanitarian disaster, as they did in Hodeida in 2018, and then turn toward brokering a wider settlement.
Huthi forces are now reportedly within 30km of Marib city, the ousted government’s last major northern stronghold, and the capital of a governorate whose original population of 300,000 has been swollen by internally displaced persons to perhaps as many as three million. The Huthis have signalled their clear intent to press on, absent a nationwide truce that halts Saudi airstrikes, allows them to reopen the airport in Yemen’s capital city, Sanaa, and permits them to more easily bring goods through Hodeida, the Red Sea port that they control. If fighting reaches Marib city’s outskirts and nearby oil and gas facilities, there could be displacement on a scale unprecedented in Yemen’s contemporary history. Worse may follow if the Huthis seize Marib and then move to expand their territorial control elsewhere. International actors helped avert a disastrous confrontation in Hodeida in 2018. They must mount a similar effort to broker a nationwide ceasefire and then press for interim political and security arrangements, pending longer-term negotiations over the country’s future.
Humanitarian Disaster
A battle for Marib city could worsen Yemen’s already dire humanitarian situation in several ways. First, an assault on Marib would put the estimated three million civilians living there at risk of death or displacement. The Huthis are likely to push toward the city from the west and target oil and gas production facilities to its east. Fighting would probably cut off most of the main highways connecting Marib with government-controlled territory, leaving only a single paved southbound road available to fleeing civilians. The Huthis may sever that road as well while advancing from positions in the governorate’s south. Assuming that this route remains open, those using it to dash for safety would be in the Huthi forces’ crosshairs and would have to travel through Shebwa governorate to the south east, where humanitarian organisations have only a minimal presence. Aid agencies say they are ill prepared to deal with the rapid movement of hundreds of thousands of people into Shebwa and other governorates controlled by the government of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi where the newly displaced might seek refuge.
Secondly, such a battle would compound Yemen’s already staggering food crisis.
Thirdly, Marib is also a small but important source of fuel, which is often in short supply in Yemen. If Marib falls, government officials say, they will pre-emptively destroy state-owned oil and gas production and processing facilities there to prevent the Huthis from taking them. The ripple effects could be significant. A refinery at these facilities accounts for almost all domestic fuel production, supplying around 8 per cent of the country’s gasoline, diesel and other forms of fuel.
Chain Reaction
Not only would a battle for Marib likely be lengthy and destructive, but it would also increase the risk of violence spreading or intensifying elsewhere in Yemen. Already, Tareq Saleh, the commander of anti-Huthi forces on Yemen’s Red Sea coast, has called on the Hadi government to withdraw from the UN-brokered 2018 Stockholm Agreement, which put an end to fighting around Hodeida.
Moreover, if the Huthis prevail in Marib, they are likely to pursue broader territorial gains, perhaps in Shebwa, to which pro-government forces are most likely to withdraw.
The influx of pro-government forces into Shebwa would also likely trigger tensions between local allies of President Hadi and the pro-independence Southern Transitional Council (STC).
= https://www.almendron.com/tribuna/crisis-in-marib-averting-a-chain-reaction-in-yemen/
Map: https://twitter.com/ACAPSproject/status/1363854710550237185
Main points in thread by Peter Salisbury: https://twitter.com/peterjsalisbury/status/1363984240556322820
More on Marib in cp2, cp4, cp17.
cp1a Am wichtigsten: Coronavirus und Seuchen / Most important: Coronavirus and epidemics
(A H)
11 new cases of coronavirus reported, 2,176 in total
http://en.adenpress.news/news/32306
and also https://debriefer.net/en/news-23334.html
(A H)
Eight confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported, 2,165 in total
http://en.adenpress.news/news/32298
(B H)
Yemen: Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin: Volume 09, lssue 3, Epi week 3, (18-24 January 2021)
The total number of consultation reported during the week was 272896 compared to 267700 the previous reporting week 3 Acute respiratory tract infections lower Respiratory Infections (LRTI), Upper Respiratory Infections (URTI), Other acute diarrhea (OAD) and Malaria (Mal) were the leading cause of morbidity this week.
Leading causes of morbidity mortality in Epi-Week 3, 2021
(URTI) 16.5%, suspected Malaria (8%),(DD) (7.2%) and (LRTI) (7.1%)Remain the leading causes of morbidity representing a total of (38.8%)
Acute viral hepatitis, acute watery diarrhea and Schistosomiasis represented less than 1% of total morbidity in reporting period Bloody diarrhea represented 0.4% Of this morbidity
All diarrheal disease comprised 7.2% and LRTI 71% of total morbidity in pilot Governorates this week .
All diarrheal disease comprised 7.2% and OAD 6.4% of total morbidity in all age group
cp2 Allgemein / General
(* A K P)
Interactive Map of Yemen War
(* A K)
Yemen War Map Updates
Feb. 22: https://southfront.org/military-situation-in-yemen-on-february-22-2021-map-update/
Feb. 20: https://southfront.org/houthis-withdraw-from-marib-dam-map-update/
Marib, Feb. 15-22: https://en.abna24.com/news//yemen-weekly-report-on-marib-fronts-15-to-22-february-map-update_1117985.html
(* B T)
Liste von Terroranschlägen im Jemen
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_von_Terroranschl%C3%A4gen_im_Jemen
Mein Kommentar: Hier werden wohl terroranschläge und kriegerische Ereignisse vermischt.
(B K P)
Part of my interview on @trtworld @The_Newsmakers Claims by #Saudi #UAE #US coalition of #Iran-ian weapons with #Houthis What type of help is there from iran to #Sanaa #Yemen (More than 300 thousands civilians death cos of blockade)
https://twitter.com/HussainBukhaiti/status/1363919048552157186
(* B K P)
UAE deeply involved in Yemen despite claims of withdrawal, experts say
From maintaining strategic islands to air and sea ports, UAE is still active in devastating conflict, experts claim
Justin Russel, head of the New York Center for Foreign Policy Affairs (NYCFPA) think-tank, which is levying a lawsuit against the US State Department over a now-paused arms deal to the UAE, told Middle East Eye that his organisation has documented continued Emirate involvement in Yemen.
"The UAE, either in the spotlight or under the radar, continues to be an aggressor in the region," Russel said.
"The UAE's withdrawal announcement drew international attention away and basically took the rest of the world off the scent of what they are actually doing in the region… But in our research, there is still funding and other battlefield support from the UAE in Yemen on a regular basis," he continued.
Bab-el-Mandeb Strait
The UAE's interests in Yemen are varied, but a key goal of the small Gulf nation - which shares no border with Yemen - is maintaining influence over the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.
The waterway is essential for the passage of about nine percent of the world's seaborne-traded crude oil and refined petroleum.
"It's pretty clear to me as a Yemeni what the UAE's endgame is, and that is to make sure that they have a government in Yemen that is going to make it easy for their oil to travel through Bab-el-Mandeb," Shireen al-Adeimi, a Yemen-born activist and professor at Michigan State University told MEE.
"It's a really important strategic location. It's why Yemen has always had interventions by Saudi Arabia and the US in the past," she said. "That's really what it comes down to."
From Socotra, an Island at the mouth of the Gulf of Aden, to Mayyun, an island right in the middle of Bab-el-Mandeb, the UAE has manoeuvred control over some powerful territory with the hopes to maintain influence over ports and seabound traffic in the region.
The government insists those islands and ports remain under Emirate control to this day.
Earlier this month, Mohamed Gezan, undersecretary of the government's information ministry, shot down UAE claims of disengagement.
"The world is a small village, thanks to the media, and everyone knows that you are still in Yemen," Gezan said in a post to Twitter that was aimed at then-UAE Foreign Affairs Minister Anwar Gargash.
"Withdraw your soldiers from Socotra, Balhaf, and Mayyun, and stop arming the militias," he said.
Last month, Mukhtar al-Rahbi, adviser to Yemen's minister of information, also complained that the UAE was refusing to reopen Al Rayan airport in Mukalla, a bustling southeastern seaport and the capital city of Yemen's largest governorate.
The UAE turned the airport into a military base for its forces around the start of the war and has refused to reopen the facility, it says for security reasons.
Rahbi, however, accused Emirati forces of using the airport "as an illegal prison to commit heinous forms of torture against Yemenis".
'That's where the PR comes in'
Still, there are some indications that the UAE is pulling back some of its forces, such as the recent dismantling of the Assab military port and airstrip that it built in Eritrea, 40 miles west of Yemen and right off the coast of the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.
But Adeimi warned that the UAE is likely keeping in place foreign forces that it has trained and funded in areas it withdraws from.
"At some point last year they announced that they were withdrawing... But really, what they were saying is that they were leaving behind trained mercenaries while pulling out their official ground troops," Adeimi said.
"That's where the PR comes in - they make it look like they've withdrawn from Yemen, when all they've done is just pull out their official physical presence," she continued.
On Thursday, Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a report that pointed out that the UAE, along with Saudi Arabia, is a highly image-conscious government that "spends billions on PR firms to whitewash their terrible human rights records".
"The STC is backed by the UAE and wouldn't be in existence without the UAE… so we have to be very clear here about its role," Adeimi told MEE in regards to the Emirate's influence over the separatist movement.
"Giving the UAE additional high-end, unmanned aerial systems, giving them a fleet of F-35s does nothing to help reduce the impact that [the] UAE has had and continues to have in the region," Russel said, calling for a complete shut down of all US weapons and training contracts with both Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
"All [these weapons deals] do is exacerbate these very large historical human rights crises in the region," he said – by Sheren Khalel
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/uae-yemen-conflict-deeply-involved-experts-say
(* B K P)
Military Escalation vs. Political Mediation , Which Will End the Yemeni Suffering?
Developments in the Yemeni issue are accelerating, in a way that may produce a new reality and an important shift. Many believe that the future will be in favor of Sana'a, as it succeeded in managing the war, and because it achieved field and military superiority, it is now bearing its fruit, even partially.
The recent positive international positions are one of these fruits, resulting from the steadfastness of the Yemenis and the success of Sana'a politically and militarily. I mean the European Parliament’s decision on stopping the war on Yemen and its call for a political settlement and the withdrawal of all foreign forces. The American and Italian decisions also that preceded them related to stopping arms sales to the Saudi and Emirati regimes. As well as Washington's review of its policies for the Yemeni crisis, stopping its support for military actions, and canceling its classification of Ansarullah as terrorist organizations.
These developments Sana'a view as a positive international trend and an extension of the victory of the Yemeni cause and the great steadfastness. To prove the seriousness of this approach, it must be followed by tangible measures that will stop the war and lift the blockade, as there is no meaning and value - in the opinion of the political force - for any positive positions as long as they are not implemented on the ground and in the form of practical steps leading to real peace.
The diplomatic and international movement to resolve the Yemeni crisis politically was accompanied with an escalation militarily. The forces in Sana'a consider the Saudi coalition intentionally escalating to be with the aim of achieving any military victory that would be used in any upcoming negotiations. This is what forced the Sana'a force to escalate militarily by launching a series of attacks on Saudi airports and the implementation of specific operations on the Marib front, as a result of which they made great progress on this continuous and burning front.
The military escalation from Sana'a was justified by its Armed Force as part of the natural and legitimate response to the military escalation of the Saudi coalition and its continuous raids and siege on the Yemenis. Sana’a stipulates stopping the air strikes and military operations in exchange for stopping Saudi blockade on airports and ports and bombing Yemen.
My comment: This looks like the official Houthi position.
(* A P)
[Sanaa gov.] Safer Agreement committee Chairman reveals maintenance delay reasons of FSO Safer
The head of the supervisory committee for the urgent maintenance agreement and comprehensive evaluation of the "Safer" floating tank confirmed on Sunday that the committee carries out its duties to the fullest with full cooperation from the relevant authorities.
In a statement to Saba, the head of the committee, Ibrahim al-Serraji, denied what was stated by the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Mark Lowcock, in his briefing to the Security Council about notification to the United Nations to stop preparations for the implementation of the urgent maintenance agreement and the comprehensive evaluation of the floating tank Safer.
Al-Serraji explained every postponement of the arrival date of the UN experts is unilaterally carried out by the United Nations for reasons of its own, and the National Salvation Government has nothing to do with Sana'a for those reasons.
He pointed out after signing the agreement, the United Nations set February, 15 as the date for the start of the mission, then later informed the date of the postponement of next March, 1, and attributed this to a delay in the delivery of materials purchased by the companies that contracted with it.
The head of the committee also confirmed that there is a framework that has been completed and agreed upon.
He said, "We respect this agreement and hope that it will also be respected by the United Nations."
https://www.saba.ye/en/news3129624.htm
and
(A P)
Houthis hold UN responsible for delayed arrival of experts tasked with repairing Safer tanker
The Ansar Allah group on Sunday held the United Nations responsible for the delayed arrival of international experts tasked with repairing Yemen's decaying oil tanker Safer.
The UN is taking unilateral decisions on the mission of the experts and justifying the delayed arrival of the experts with a delay in the delivery of materials required to conduct repairs, it said.
In a statement carried by the Sanaa-based Saba news agency, the head of the group's committee on the tanker Ibrahim Al-Seraji denied that the group is obstructing the arrival of the experts.
On Thursday, the United Nations Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock accused in a briefing to the UN Security Council the group of obstructing efforts to avert the catastrophe of the decaying tanker.
https://debriefer.net/en/news-23308.html
(B K P)
The Bombing of Marib and the Saudi Abha Airport by the Houthi Militia is a War Crime.
SAM Organization for Rights and Liberties said that the Houthis continued targeting of the civilians in the city of Marib with ballistic missiles and Katyusha rockets, in addition to bombing civilian objects and vital places, including Abha airport, is a full-fledged war crime and a flagrant violation of the Geneva Conventions, stressing that these attacks greatly undermine the peace efforts led by the UN envoy, the European Union and the United States of America.
In a statement issued today, Thursday, the international organization confirmed that the Houthi militia had launched more than 115 ballistic missiles during the war in Yemen, in addition to 140 Katyusha rockets, which killed about 255 civilians, including 25 children, 12 women, and injured more than 445 civilians. Among them, 47 children and 10 women, and damaged agricultural lands and residential neighborhoods crowded with hundreds of civilians, expressing their fear that these operations are part of the widespread reprisal practices carried out by the Houthi militia against civilians with the aim of causing terror and chaos in the city in order to control it.
https://samrl.org/l.php?l=e,10,A,c,1,74,77,4135,html
My comment: Might-be. But it’s propaganda to lament about this without taking into account Saudi / UAE air raids and interference.
(* B K P)
Biden will Frieden in Jemen, aber Irans Verbündete heizen den Krieg an
Washington will die Huthi-Rebellen an den Verhandlungstisch bringen. Doch die proiranische Miliz zeigt kein Interesse für Friedensgespräche oder für die Menschenrechte. Ihre Offensive auf die Stadt Marib gefährdet Hunderttausende von Flüchtlingen.
In Jemen zeigt sich derzeit wieder einmal, wie schwer es westlichen Demokratien im Nahen Osten fällt, ihre Interessen militärisch durchzusetzen, da sie auch stets die humanitären Konsequenzen berücksichtigen müssen.
Die Huthi erzielten im vergangenen Jahr weitere Geländegewinne und haben nun vor wenigen Tagen erneut eine grosse Offensive auf die Stadt Marib gestartet – das Herz der jemenitischen Erdöl- und Erdgaswirtschaft 170 Kilometer östlich der Hauptstadt Sanaa.
Auch hier droht eine humanitäre Katastrophe: Marib hat seit Beginn des Kriegs vor sechs Jahren knapp zwei Millionen Binnenflüchtlinge aufgenommen. Gemäss ersten Meldungen fliehen bereits Hunderte vor den heftigen Kämpfen aus ihren Camps.
Die Huthi und ihre iranischen Unterstützer kümmern sich aber nicht um die Menschenrechte. Gemäss dem jüngsten Uno-Bericht rekrutiert die Miliz auch Minderjährige für ihren «heiligen Krieg». Gegenüber der Zeit des Stockholm-Abkommens vor drei Jahren hat sich die Machtbalance völlig verschoben.
Washington wirkt umso hilfloser, als der neue amerikanische Präsident Joe Biden die Huthi mit vertrauensbildenden Massnahmen für ernsthafte Friedensgespräche gewinnen möchte.
Die Huthi haben die Signale aus Washington jedoch offenbar nicht als Einladung zu Gesprächen, sondern zur Eskalation gegen einen geschwächten Feind verstanden.
Bisher beeindruckten die Warnungen aus Washington die Huthi jedoch wenig. «Es ist eine riesige Offensive. Die Front zieht sich über 200 Kilometer», erklärt Nagi. Die regierungstreuen Truppen hätten Mühe, ihre Nachschublinien offen zu halten, bestätigt auch die Jemen-Expertin Maysaa Shuja al-Din. «Marib ist schon fast eingekesselt.»
Saudiarabien dürfte indes alles daransetzen, um den Fall von Marib zu verhindern. Für Riad und Jemens international anerkannte Regierung geht es praktisch um alles oder nichts. «Nirgendwo ist der Widerstand gegen die Huthi so stark wie in Marib», sagt Nagi. Die mehrheitlich sunnitischen Stämme stehen in einer historischen Rivalität zu den Zaiditen, einer mit dem schiitischen Islam verwandten Glaubensrichtung, zu der auch der Stamm der Huthi gehört. Sollten die Huthi auch Marib erobern, könnten sie von dort aus leicht in weitere Provinzen vorstossen, glaubt Nagi.
https://www.nzz.ch/international/jemen-irans-verbuendete-gehen-weiter-in-die-offensive-ld.1602414
Mein Kommentar: Mit starker Tendenz gegen die Huthis, so dass ich den Artikel zuerst unter „Propaganda“ einordnen wollte. Schon der Gegensatz im Titel: Hier die friedliebenden Amerikaner – dort die krigesgeilen Huthis – ist in dieser prononvierung schräg.
(B K P)
Houthis Redrawing Border between Yemen’s North and South
When the Iran-backed Houthi militias took over the Yemeni capital Sanaa in September 2014, their leader, Abdulmalek al-Houthi vowed to then United Nations envoy Jamal Benomar that his fighters will carve up the country’s north to themselves.
Six years later, the Houthis have embarked on an “adventure” to seize southern provinces in an effort to redraw the line that separated Yemen’s north and south before the establishment of the republic in 1990.
The Houthis have failed in these six years to garner the support of the people in regions under their control, except perhaps in the Dhamar and Raimah provinces due to their geographic positions.
Residents told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Houthis have started to construct an administrative building for the Dhale province in the Damt district, which was part of the Ibb province. Damt is the closest district to the former border line.
The militias had waged an offensive in the region to shut the main trade route that connects the north to the south where Aden port is located. The Houthis had launched a similar offensive over the border between Dhale and Taiz.
In Lahj, the militias have sought to deploy in areas that used to make up the former border. They did the same along the border between the al-Bayda and Abyan provinces.
Now, the Houthis are sending out all of their forces towards the Marib province in an effort to complete the re-demarcation of the former border line. The capture of the province would also allow the militias to control vital gas and oil wells and the main power plant and reach the former border regions of Hadramawt and Shabwa.
My remark: As claimed by a Saudi news site.
(B K P)
Is the war in Yemen an International Armed Conflict (IAC) or Non-International Armed Conflict (NIAC), civil war, under the International Humanitarian Law (IHL)? When a NIAC can be transferred into IAC?
Under IHL, if the State is fighting organized armed groups, the conflict is NIAC or civil war. Furthermore, if a foreign state intervened to support the State against armed groups, it remains NIAC.
Internal armed conflict can transfer into international armed conflict if a foreign State exercises overall control over the armed group against the territorial State by providing "financial, operational support to the rebel group, & helps with military activities of the rebels"
Since the Saudi-led coalition claims is fighting in Yemen to support the internationally-recognized government of Hadi, this conflict remains a civil war per IHL!! An example, the war in Syria is a civil war since Russia is fighting the rebels in support of the State.
The UN envoy to Yemen still say the conflict in Yemen is a civil war, though Ansarullah(rebel group) criticized him over not labeling the conflict as an international armed conflict since many countries are fighting them!!
https://twitter.com/Naseh_Shaker/status/1363188912550780929
(* B K P)
Analysis: How significant is Ma’rib liberation in Yemen conflict?
Yemen’s Ma’rib province in the past few days has become the central focus of the six-year war. As the Yemeni army and popular committees already consolidated their positions by winning more than a battle against the Saudi and resigned President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi’s loyalists and mercenaries, Ansarullah Movement is making fast advances on Ma’rib frontlines and only a couple of days separate it from full liberation of the important and strategic province.
On Wednesday, the resistant forces took control of important Al-Zour village in Sirwah District. The Yemeni forces approached the historical Ma'rib Dam after liberating the village and fighting a fierce battle that left dozens dead and wounded in the ranks of Saudi mercenaries, including their officers and commanders.
The moves by the Yemeni forces and the Ansarullah movement in the past few days were not limited to intensifying the attacks to liberate the province, but the Yemeni army and popular committees also attacked various Saudi military bases in the area with missiles and drones, inflicting heavy casualties. Field reports suggest the fall of the Sirwah front and withdrawal of Saudi forces from Jin plain.
Meanwhile, along with the field advances, some news from Yemeni sources said that the Yemeni military leaders met with tribal leaders in Sanaa to discuss a mechanism of contacting the tribes aligned with the Saudi and Emirati aggression and persuading them to return to cooperation with the capital Sanaa for expulsion of the occupiers.
Impacts of Ma’rib liberation
The liberation of Ma'rib will inevitably lead to an increase in Ansarullah’s power in the Yemeni developments, and will reciprocally reduce the power and influence of the resigned government and the Arab coalition in Aden, the seat of the fugitive Mansour Hadi.
The province's strategic position, big population, economic position, and oil and gas reserves make Ma’rib one of the most strategic and precious provinces for Sanaa and the resigned government to fight for. The country’s main oil pipeline crosses Ma’rib to reach Ras Isa oil terminal on the Red Sea coast.
The presence of a large part of Yemen's historical heritage in this city has led to the prosperity of hotels, restaurants, construction companies and other types of trade. Its economic growth is higher than other parts of Yemen. Therefore, Ansarullah's control over this province can help solve a considerable part of Sanaa's economic problems in the face of sanctions, and give more power to the Sanaa administration in equations.
On the other hand, as the most important traditional base of the Muslim Brotherhood in Yemen and the last stronghold of the mercenaries affiliated with Mansour Hadi in the central regions, Ma’rib is vital to maintain the role of the ousted government in the future. In fact, given the prominent role of the Brotherhood in Hadi's cabinet, the loss of Ma'rib province will have a profound effect on the balance of power in southern Yemen and the fate of the Riyadh agreement, signed last year between the Southern Transitional Council (STC) and Mansour Hadi to share power.
Accordingly, with further Mansour Hadi's power decline and the complete disappearance of the legitimacy of his self-proclaimed government in the north and south of Yemen, the continuation of the Saudi aggression on Yemeni soil will face questions of legitimacy. With Ma’rib captured by Ansarullah, in any future negotiations, the resistant movement will have an upper hand.
Saudi Arabia and its ally the US are expected to step up their political and military pressures against Ansarullah in the next few days.
My comment: A pro-Houthi viewpoint.
(* B K P)
Film: In Abaad’s strategic forum.. Experts discuss the new road map in Yemen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8xShtsbk9Q&t=14s = https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=2903074986615818
(A K P)
When balances change for Sana'a authorities, talks start on peace: Iran
Talks on political solution in Yemen has started after military balances changed in favor of the Houthis, Iranian envoy to Houthis tweeted on Thursday.
After they knew that military balances became on the side of the Houthis, aggressors began talking about political settlement, Hassan Irloo said.
"They accuse others of non-positive role and use the blockade as a weapon against the Yemeni people, and this is in contrast with their logos claiming the protection of humanity," he added.
https://debriefer.net/en/news-23253.html
(A K P)
Houthis remind UN Yemen envoy of 9-point initiative
The Houthis on Thursday criticized the UN envoy's briefing to the UN Security Council on the group's recent military escalation and attack on the northeastern governorate of Marib.
"The UN envoy knows that the aggression rejected at the beginning the nine-point initiative on Marib, under the pretext that the aggression countries and their supporters in their way to liberate the capital Sana'a, and didn't accept to stop raids or lift blockade in return for a halt to shelling," Mohamed Ali al-Houthi added.
https://debriefer.net/en/news-23254.html
(* B K P)
Yemenis Are Skeptical Biden’s Pivot Can End the War
Some Yemenis express little optimism that they will live to see their country at peace again
The reversal in U.S. policy — which was originally greenlighted by the Obama administration and continued under Trump — leaves Yemenis with mixed feelings, though many are hopeful for a normalization of life.
Omar Abdul-Aziz, 58, captured this sentiment when he spoke to Newlines in Sanaa. He is one of over 3.5 million Yemenis who have been internally displaced due to the war. Abdul-Aziz hails from the embattled port city of Al Hudaydah. He fled the fighting three years ago and has since been struggling to survive in Sanaa.
“I’ve been very damaged by this war. We are all very tired of it,” he said. “Now we can say there is a glimpse of hope that this resolution is going to stop the profiting of warlords who are destroying the nation and killing women and children.”
Throughout Sanaa, small-business owners and entrepreneurs are also expressing some optimism with the change of course in U.S. policy.
Abu Hasan, owner of a once-thriving electronics store in Sanaa, said he was especially relieved to hear that the Biden administration would reverse Trump’s designation of the al-Houthi group as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, which would have meant severe economic sanctions against the country.
“The designation is like an execution by hanging for my business,” he said,
But not everyone believes the U.S. can fix Yemen’s problems. Tareq Al Qubaati owns a grill shop near one of the largest neighborhoods for marginalized Black people in Sanaa. He said the U.S. can only do so much. The rest will depend on Yemen’s warring factions and their goodwill toward the people.
“Every party needs to make concessions. There is no need for a forever war,” he said.
The vicious fighting has polarized the country and added complexity to alliances.
Jalal Abdul-Jaleel, an analyst of the al-Houthi group who also supports the movement, said that despite recent escalations, the Iran-backed group will meet with Timothy Lenderking, the U.S. special envoy to Yemen, just to “stop the excuses that Ansarallah is the one obstructing peace.”
“The U.S. needs to push the Saudis and Emiratis to stop the war, and we, along with the other Yemeni parties, will figure out how to get along with each other,” he added.
Some Yemenis express little optimism that they will live to see their country at peace again.
Asked about such a prospect, 70-year-old Mohammed al Zubaidi shook his head adamantly as he sat amid his pile of secondhand books for sale in Tahrir Square. “When war between religious communities erupts, it will not end for 100 years,” he said. “And that is why Biden and his envoy are going to fail.”
His stance echoes that of others of his generation
https://newlinesmag.com/reportage/yemenis-are-skeptical-bidens-pivot-can-end-the-war/
(A K P)
Quaker organisations announce Nobel Prize nominations
The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) and Quaker Peace & Social Witness (QPSW) have nominated two organisations – Mwatana for Human Rights and Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) – for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize.
“The timing of this nomination is intended to draw attention to the Judicial Review being conducted in the UK about arms trading in Saudi Arabia, to support protests in the US about renewed arms sales to the UAE, and to highlight the misery and suffering of the Yemeni people in the proxy war being conducted in their country," reads the nominating letter. “The pairing of the two organisations is intended to hold up collaborations between local organisations and activism with initiatives by civil society to engage policy and law making through legal and diplomatic channels."
Mwatana for Human Rights is a grassroots organisation working in Yemen to defend human rights.
https://www.quaker.org.uk/news-and-events/news/quaker-organisations-announce-nobel-prize-nominations
(A K P)
Campaign Against the Arms Trade nominated for the Noble Peace Prize
CAMPAIGN Against the Arms Trade (CAAT) has been nominated for the Noble Peace Prize for its ongoing work to stop Britain’s complicity in the bombing of Yemen.
The anti-arms group received the joint nomination along with its partner Mwatana for Human Rights, a grassroots organisation in Yemen, from Nobel Laureate the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) and Quaker Peace & Social Witness (QPSW).
The nomination is intended to draw attention to the suffering of the Yemeni people and CAAT’s latest judicial review against Britain’s arms sales to Saudi Arabia.
A previous legal action by the group successfully halted arms sales to the Gulf state, which is accused of war crimes in Yemen, until ministers decided resume exports in July.
Quaker Peace and Social Witness head Oliver Robertson said that they hoped the nomination will also “encourage others to shut off the flow of armaments and instead work hard to build a sustainable peace in Yemen.”
(B H K P)
Yemen: The human cost of a crisis
Sweden and Switzerland will be hosting a virtual fundraising event for Yemen’s humanitarian crisis early next month, but it is not clear if the event is being coordinated with other parties.
Out of the over 233 thousand killed, 133 thousand died indirectly – mainly due to malnutrition and lack of healthcare.
Despite all these reports, meetings and calls, ordinary Yemenis we spoke to expressed mixed feelings. Many are not optimistic that their sufferings will be alleviated soon even if the war ended. The country is already torn apart, and local political parties and militias are entrenched for long internal conflicts. Some referred to the fact that even international aid might still be used in the conflict citing how local organisations linked to the Muslim Brotherhood affiliate Islah Party are using humanitarian assistance to garner influence in some areas.
(* B K P)
[from 2016]: Paths To War
By October 2016, the ongoing civil war in Yemen has caused about 3.1 million internally displaced people and claimed over 10.000 lives (Security Council Report 2016). The conflict is in many ways the typical conflict of our time, as it involves Islamic extremism, a weak state formerly headed by an autocrat, a poor population divided by sectarian and tribal lines, oil reserves and intervention by foreign actors. Yemen is “the usual suspect” when it comes to contemporary violent conflict. Because of these characteristics, the civil war in Yemen is suitable to illustrate the different theories about civil war onset. The process of illustrating the theories of civil war onset will also shed light on the specific origin of the civil war in Yemen. This is the dual purpose of this paper. In order to do this I will first present a brief overview of who is fighting and what they are fighting to achieve. Thereafter I will present theories on civil war onset, grouped into three pathways, and apply them on The Yemeni civil war. In the end, I will reflect on the applicability of the theories and consider some alternative approaches.
https://www.academia.edu/31278846/Paths_To_War?email_work_card=title
cp2a Saudische Blockade / Saudi blockade
(A K P)
Yemen Red Sea Ports Corporation warns of stopping Hodeida, Salif ports acitivity due to lack of fuel
The Yemeni Red Sea Ports Corporation on Monday confirmed that the stock of oil materials for the operational process of the ports of Hodeida and Salif reached a minimum.
The corporation warned, in a statement, that the two ports' activities in receiving food and relief supplies might be stopped during the next few days, which heralds the occurrence of a humanitarian disaster in Yemen, the worst in the world.
The statement indicated that the tanker “PIRAMERD” was the last tanker that arrived at the port of Hodeida on December 30, 2020, and was loaded with 28,062 tons of diesel, while the tanker "MIURA" arrived at the port on December 29, 2020, loaded with 14,299 tons of benzene.
https://www.saba.ye/en/news3129713.htm
(A K P)
YPC: US-Saudi Aggression Sold Fuel Tanker Instead of Allowing it Reach Yemeni Port
Sources in the Yemeni Petroleum Company revealed, Sunday, that the US-Saudi aggression and its mercenaries have sold the Carmel fuel tanker after it was shipped from Bir Ali port in Shabwa governorate.
The sources explained that the Carmel tanker crossed the Suez Canal after it was shipped with one million barrels of crude oil from Bir Ali port in Shabwa on Feb. 14. The sources indicated that the looted shipment was sold at an amount of 3 billion and 600 million Yemeni riyals.
It is noteworthy that the US-Saudi aggression and its mercenaries were not satisfied with detaining of ships of oil derivatives and preventing their entry to the port of Hodeidah. They reached the point of playing with the capabilities of the Yemeni People, plundering their wealth and selling them in disregard for the property of the people and depriving them of the most basic rights.
(B K P)
More than $ 20 billion in losses to Yemen due to piracy on fuel ships: Oil Company
The Yemeni Oil Company confirmed on Friday that the direct and indirect economic losses incurred by Yemen as a result of maritime piracy on fuel ships during the year 2020 AD, exceeded 20 billion dollars.
The company's executive director, Ammar al-Adhrai, indicated during a protest stand by the company’s employees today in front of the model station in Sana’a, that 26 million Yemenis are bearing the trouble due to the acts of maritime piracy by the forces of the US-Saudi aggression.
He pointed out that the delay fines incurred by Yemen due to the seizure of oil derivative ships exceeded 28 million and 800 thousand dollars, equivalent to 18 billion riyals, which is an additional cost that the citizen should bear.
Al-Adhrai explained that the customs and tax revenues on the currently detained ships do not exceed six billion riyals. He said, "The coalition of aggression is paying the Yemeni people three times the customs duties on the basis of which fuel ships were detained according to the statement of the UN envoy Martin Griffiths."
https://www.saba.ye/en/news3129291.htm
cp3 Humanitäre Lage / Humanitarian situation
Siehe / Look at cp1
(* B H)
'He treated me as a slave': Women face rising violence amid war in Yemen
Civil war has drastically cut support services for women already at high risk of violence while displacing others who are now vulnerable to armed groups
Like far too many Yemeni women, often married before the age of 18, Rima has never known safety in her own home. The six-year civil war has exacerbated already high levels of violence against women, and led to drastic cuts in funding for safe spaces such as the one in Turba, because of competing urgent needs. Some 80% of the population of Yemen requires some form of humanitarian assistance, and food insecurity is rising. At the same time, according to the UN, demand for services for women who were victims of violence rose by 36% in 2017.
“It’s a big problem. It has always existed, even before the war, so it is not something new,” says Nestor Owomuhangi, Yemen’s UN Population Fund representative. Part of the increase, he says, is probably down to better awareness of the problem, as programmes were established in areas where there had been little acknowledgment of domestic violence. Now, he says, “the crisis exacerbates the risk”.
In the conflict, armed men have taken advantage of the insecurity of those displaced by the violence; 83% of displaced people in Yemen are women and children.
Rima also blames drugs in part for her husband’s irrational and brutal fits of rage. He was a dealer in khat, the narcotic leaf that many Yemenis chew.
As a child bride she was statistically more likely to undergo abuse. In Yemen there is no statute limiting the age of marriage and in 2017, the UN reported that 52% of Yemeni women had been married before the age of 18. Anecdotal accounts suggest those rates have soared upwards as the war has continued and families slide further into poverty, leaving children hungry.
Rima had to abandon school. “My husband didn’t want me to continue my studies,” she says. “I was a school leaver, grade 12, about to finish. He didn’t allow me to finish.”
Gamil Gemayel, the manager at the Turba centre where Rima was given safe lodgings and treatment, says it relies “100%, 200%, even”, on UN funding, which has been cut back because of a lack of donor support for the UN’s Yemen programme.
Since it opened in 2016, the centre has treated 2,250 women and children. But the pressures on its services are huge and growing, Gemayel says, estimating that around 80% of women in the area have suffered some trauma as a result of the war.
“In August, after the budget cuts, we had to stop giving away some medicine free to patients who needed it,” Gemayel says.
(B H)
The Houthis control the majority of areas where hunger is most severe: they share blame with Saudi Arabia for the starvation of Yemenis.
UN report shows the deepening crisis of famine over the past year While the Saudi-led blockade has contributed significantly to spikes in prices for basic necessities, the Houthis have prevented aid distribution to populations under their control
USAID suspended distribution in Yemen b/c the Houthis were taking the aid & selling it The result has been famine Although the Houthis may again misuse aid, withholding it is killing Yemenis & isn't weakening the Houthis, who are now stronger
The int'l community is also to blame Last yr, the UN received about half the money requested for aid to Yemen The US, EU, Saudi Arabia, UAE will be meeting again in March: all profit from Yemen's destruction We, the wealthy countries, must help Yemen
https://twitter.com/AnnelleSheline/status/1363980695677378561
(* B H)
Statement by Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mark Lowcock, on Yemen (22 February 2021)
As Yemen enters its seventh year of conflict, the United Nations, together with the Governments of Sweden and Switzerland, is organizing a high-level pledging event on 1 March to raise money for the relief operation.
Today, I spoke to people all over the country to hear first-hand about their daily struggle for survival, and ask what message they had for the leaders who will attend the pledging conference.
Here is what they told me.
Amjad is a former taxi driver in Hamdan district. He has a 10-month-old son, Walid, who is being treated for severe acute malnutrition. Food is scarce in his home. He told me: “Millions of families are in famine – thousands of children are dying – the only thing that is free is air, and even that is polluted because of the war. Our humanity has been stolen from us.”
Idris and his family of 12, including seven children, who are in Amran, will receive no aid for the next six weeks, because of cuts in the aid programme due to funding shortages. He said: “My children don’t ask for anything. They see our surroundings and understand, so they don’t ask for more. But the oldest boy, who is 14 years old, tries his best to find income. Sometimes he says he wants to go to the top of the mountain and kill himself because he cannot bring things for his little brothers and sisters.”
Khalil, a former teacher and a father of eight children, was displaced from Taizz to Amran four months ago. He told me he had to sell the gas cylinder they used for cooking yesterday. He said: “Please save us, rescue us from these conditions. If these conditions are worsened or not alleviated by the international community, it will be the largest famine and the whole world will witness it.”
Karim was displaced by conflict in Razih to Saada. His 9-month-old daughter is severely malnourished, and Karim has no money for drugs or the clinic to treat her. He told me to tell the world leaders: “Stop the war, lift the siege. We have no jobs, no food. There is no medicine available. Lift the blockade and allow us back to normal life.”
Eman, a mother of two, was displaced from Taizz six years ago to Ibb. She receives no food assistance. She told me: “Most nights my children go to bed without dinner and are hungry until morning."
Adnan lives in Saada City with his family including seven children, two of whom have special needs. He told me about his 8-year-old daughter, Athkar: “A few months ago she started feeling very weak in her legs. We took her to the hospital, there was a problem in her hips. They did surgery and she is now under treatment. But medical services here are very poor. There is a scarcity of medicine. She is better but cannot walk. I don’t have enough food for her.”
and agency reports:
My comment: Lowcock praises the Gulf states as major humanitarian donors and flatters them in a way that makes it necessary to classify his corresponding adulation under 15. Propaganda.
(B H)
Yemen - Geographic Distribution of Diarrheal Treatment Centers (January 2021)
Yemen - Diarrheal Treatment Centers / Oral Rehydration Corners Gaps in the 169 Priority Districts (January 2021)
Yemen - Geographic Distribution of Oral Rehydration Corners (January 2021)
https://reliefweb.int/map/yemen/yemen-geographic-distribution-oral-rehydration-corners-january-2021
(B H)
A special day for the Wadi Du'an residents #Hadramout at the completion of the water barrier project for the Qarn Majid communities. This life-saving facility has always been a key priority for several beneficiary communities. (photos)
https://twitter.com/SFDYemen/status/1363895047381475328
https://twitter.com/SFDYemen/status/1363891047303102470
(* B H)
Severe malnutrition on the rise among children in Abs, northern Yemen
Since the beginning of the year, MSF has been treating increasing numbers of severely malnourished patients at Abs Hospital, in the Hajjah governorate of northwestern Yemen. While there are always annual peaks in malnutrition, cases in Abs re up 41% on the same period last year.
Hamdi is one of more than a hundred children that MSF has treated at the Abs Inpatient Therapeutic Feeding Centre since the beginning of the year. Most of them are under five years old and all are suffering from severe malnutrition.
Severe malnutrition is associated with a host of other health problems that can be fatal for babies and young children if left untreated.
“There are many reasons why we are seeing malnourished children in Abs, but most of them are connected to the brutal, six-year long conflict that has plagued Yemen since 2015. The war has decimated the economy here, destroying livelihoods so that people can no longer afford food to feed their families or fuel to travel to seek work or medical care. Many public sector staff - including medical workers - haven’t been paid in years. Prices are constantly rising: without humanitarian aid, many families would not eat at all.” says Muriel Boursier, MSF’s Head of Mission in Yemen
“The vast majority of the population in Abs relies on humanitarian aid for survival, but in spite of this clear need it is a constant challenge for humanitarian organizations to reach the most vulnerable populations. The humanitarian response lacks continuity, is insufficient, and underfunded”.
https://www.msf.org/severe-malnutrition-rise-among-children-yemen = https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/what-we-do/news-stories/story/yemen-severe-malnutrition-rise-among-children-abs = https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/severe-malnutrition-rise-among-children-abs-northern-yemen
(A H P)
QRCS opens new EICS department at Al-Jomhouri Hospital in Yemen
Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) has opened a new Extended Intensive Care Service (EICS) department at the Al-Jomhouri University Hospital in Sanaa, Yemen, in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/qrcs-opens-new-eics-department-al-jomhouri-hospital-yemen-enar
(B H)
WFP Yemen Situation Report #1, January 2021
WFP targeted 8.1 million Yemeni people with general food assistance under January distributions.
WFP requires USD 519 million to continue operations unimpeded over the next six months (February 2021 – July 2021).
https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/wfp-yemen-situation-report-1-january-2021
(B H)
Film: I met these children in my way to hodeidah, They sell some of the fruits. One bag all day for a quarter of a dollar. It's real tragedy, This a truth of the unjust Saudi war and blockade has made millions of children work to help their families
https://twitter.com/ghalebalsudmy/status/1363536394812088325
(A H P)
Virtual High-Level Pledging Event for the Humanitarian Situation in Yemen
The Governments of Sweden and Switzerland and the United Nations invite Member States to participate in the pledging event at the Ministerial level and to contribute generously to the Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan, Country-Based Pooled Fund and the Central Emergency Response Fund for 2021 and beyond. Other partners are expected to participate at the Principal level.
The event will take place on Monday 1 March 2021, through a managed virtual platform. The working languages for this High-Level Event will be Arabic and English. Interpretation will be available in both languages.
https://www.unocha.org/yemen2021
(* B H P)
Yemen Socio-Economic Update, Issue 54 - November 2020 [EN/AR]
In September 2015, the United Nations launched the Sustainable Development Agenda (SDGs) consisting of 17 goals and 169 targets that seek to balance sustainable development across the economic, social and ecological dimensions. It serves as an action plan for people, the planet, prosperity and peace. All countries around the world have committed themselves to go ahead with the implementation and adoption of this agenda into their national plans, integrating social development, economic growth and environmental protection 1 , to achieve sustainable development goals.
This YSEU bulletin ( both Part 1 and 2) intends to analyze and review the relevant goals and indicators for Yemen, identify development gaps, analyze the challenges and formulate the appropriate solutions and remedies using a robust methodology, which combines traditional and integrated approaches that balance the three dimensions of sustainable development at all levels. In addition, supportive national indicators have been used to come up with a clear picture of the goal trends and guide the situation in Yemen. The bulletin also provides important data and a tool for policy makers to use in setting goals, formulating policies, and monitoring progress. Since many goals involve multiple social, economic and environmental dimensions they, nevertheless, intersect with each other, these goals have been divided according to their dimension for easy presentation of general and direct objectives. This issue of the YSEU bulletin deals addresses goals with economic and ecological dimensions and complemented by two annexes. Annex 1 covers the time span from 2014 to 2019, including many indicators whose data are available, while the other sheds light on indicators whose data are not available so far and , hence, require further attention in the coming period as part of planning, policy-making and setting the relevant procedures, as well as for statistical monitoring and evaluation purposes.
https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/yemen-socio-economic-update-issue-54-november-2020-enar
(* B H)
War forces Yemenis to eat plant leaves as famine risk grows
People in the Bani al-Qallam village, some 100 km from Sanaa, have been mainly consuming leaves of local vines like ghulaf or Cyphostemma digitatum to escape starvation deaths by six years of war.
With around 2,500 inhabitants, Bani al-Qallam is one of the most neglected villages in the war-ravaged West Asian country.
People in the village of the tribal community have lost cattle and crops in the war that has raged in Yemen since 2015 between the Iran-aligned Houthis rebels and the internationally recognized government of the exiled President Abdu-Rabbeh Mansour Hadi.
In recent years, the food crisis has pushed the people, mostly children, toward malnutrition and the country towards one of the worst famines in recent times.
The suffering of Bani al-Qallam is a living example of how the war has exacted a terrible and massive human cost.
Local charity Mona Relief claims that it has been the first aid agency to reach the village with food baskets containing sacks of wheat flour, sugar, cooking oil, lentils, rice, and milk powder.
https://www.laprensalatina.com/war-forces-yemenis-to-eat-plant-leaves-as-famine-risk-grows/
and also (in Spanish): https://www.colombia.com/actualidad/internacionales/personas-que-se-mueren-de-hambre-en-yemen-optan-por-comer-hojas-hervidas-296039
(B H)
Islamic Relief: Urgent support needed in Yemen as malnutrition rises in children
Six years since the outbreak of conflict in Yemen and Yemeni men, women and children are struggling to survive.
For local families, simply getting enough food to eat has become increasingly difficult across the country. People’s livelihoods have been destroyed by the conflict and opportunities to earn a living devastated by the fallout. With a lack of money and food, a staggering 9.6 million people are one step away from famine.
With the ongoing impact of the war on local services and the economy, growing up in Yemen is immensely challenging. For babies and young children in particular, levels of malnutrition are incredibly high. This has increased with each year of conflict, and 2020 has seen the biggest deterioration in this situation.
https://www.islamic-relief.org/urgent-support-needed-in-yemen-as-malnutrition-rises-in-children/
(B H)
Yemen Heads towards Worst Famine World has Seen in Decades
But Ibrahim Jalal from the Middle East Institute (MEI) says the UN should have delivered a stronger message and specifically named Yemen’s Houthi group who were responsible for offensive in Marib city.
“I think the first thing I expected is more clarity in language,” Jalal, a non-resident scholar at the MEI’s Gulf Affairs and Yemen Programme, told IPS after the briefing. “You see so many issues when they talk about protection of civilians, or humanitarian issues at stake or even the military escalation by Houthis in Marib — they were not named in any form of clarity.”
He criticised Lowcock’s discussion of the Marib attack as well as the SAFER tanker issue as ones without much nuance or critical questions. He said even though Lowcock brought up these issues, it remained “clearly unanswered” for many as to why these incidents took place and who needs to be held accountable in response.
Jalal believes Lowcock should have also specifically addressed the issue ofinternally displaced peoples (IDP) camps, which have been hit particularly hard by the most recent attacks.
“The [IDPs] situation in Marib is quite alarming, so things should’ve been spelled just very clearly — language matters,” Jalal said. “I don’t see that there.”
But Jalal still felt that these were mere words that wouldn’t translate into actions.
“I don’t think it was bold,” he said regarding Lowcock’s statement. “It was just another UN statement that might not meet the urgency and the alarming threats over the two million IDPs in Marib, or even the catastrophic looming environmental disaster [brought] on by the SAFER tanker issue.”
http://www.ipsnews.net/2021/02/yemen-heads-towards-worst-famine-world-has-seen-in-decades/
My comment: What to think of this critics against Mark Lowcock? Ibrahim Jalal is a firce anti-Houthi voice, his MEI is anti-Houthi and largely Saudi-paid. So what to expect?
cp4 Flüchtlinge / Refugees
(* B H K)
Film: Jemen: Auf der Suche nach Frieden
Die Kämpfe im Jemen zwischen der Armee und den Huthi-Rebellen haben in den vergangenen Jahren zahlreiche Menschenleben gekostet und Tausende in die Flucht getrieben. In der Nähe der Stadt Ma'rib suchen Menschen im Lager Jaw Al Naseem Unterschlupf. Die Regierungstruppen, die von Saudi-Arabien unterstützt werden, haben den Huthi-Rebellen vorgeworfen, Zivilisten als menschliche Schutzschilde zu missbrauchen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_g8Q9_A-aVg = https://de.euronews.com/2021/02/23/jemen-auf-der-suche-nach-frieden
(* B H K)
Film: Yemenis displaced as push to capture city of Marib continues
Displaced Yemenis set up tents following their arrival at the Jaw Al Naseem camp, north of Marib.
Earlier this month, the Houthi rebels resumed a push to capture the city of Marib, located 120 kilometres east of the rebel-held capital Sanaa.
The city lies close to some of Yemen's richest oil fields and its capture would be major prize for the rebels.
But the fighting raised fears for hundreds of thousands of displaced citizens sheltering in camps.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Eq0YUheVSk = https://www.euronews.com/2021/02/22/yemenis-displaced-as-push-to-capture-city-of-marib-continues
(B H)
Film: Ahead of the pledging conference for #Yemen on 1 March, High Commissioner @FilippoGrandi hopes that there will be a good response from donors. "Unless the situation improves, hunger, epidemics and other humanitarian catastrophes are likely to grow in Yemen"
https://twitter.com/UNHCRYemen/status/1363754558611202049
(B H)
IOM Yemen | Rapid Displacement Tracking (RDT) - Reporting Period: 14 - 20 Feb 2021
(* A H K)
UNO befürchtet neue Massenflucht im Jemen
Angesichts der intensiven Kämpfe in der Provinz Marib im Jemen ist das UN-Menschenrechtsbüro besorgt über die Lage der Zivilisten. In der Region gebe es mindestens 800.000 Vertriebene, in deren Lagern Wasser, Strom und die medizinische Notversorgung teils ausgefallen seien, sagte eine Sprecherin am Freitag in Genf
https://www.jungewelt.de/artikel/396886.uno-bef%C3%BCrchtet-neue-massenflucht-im-jemen.html
(* A H K)
IOM Yemen | Displacement in Marib | Flash Update | 18 February 2021
Since January 2020, fighting in Marib, Al Jawf and Sana’a governorates has led to mass displacement, forcing an estimated 16,631 families (116,417 people) to flee, mostly towards Marib city and surrounding districts. More than a year later, the situation has once again escalated with renewed fighting across parts of western, northern and southern Marib displacing more people mainly into Sirwah, Marib city and Marib Al Wadi districts.
This recent escalation in hostilities across western, northern and southern Marib has hit people in Sirwah district the hardest. Since 08 February 2021, IOM and partners recorded nearly 1,000 households (HHs) having been displaced from conflict affected areas in Sirwah, with the actual number of displaced likely to be higher. Already, Sirwah District hosts more than 4,300 displaced families and at least 14 displacement sites. Displaced people, many of whom were already internally displaced persons (IDPs), are primarily moving from Sirwah sub district to safer areas in Arak sub-district and Al Rawdah IDP hosting site in particular. Some 744 HHs are reported to have arrived here in recent days, a majority of them having fled four IDP hosting sites – Mustashfa, Dhanah Al Hayal, Dhanah Al Sawabin and Al Zour sites – and the surrounding host communities in these areas. Some have also made it as far as Marib city (201 HHs) and Marib Al Wadi (39 HHs).
Al Rawdah Sirwah IDP hosting site has received the highest caseload of new IDPs in recent days (744 HHs). The site is located on flat land in a mountainous area, where there is little vegetation.
The newly displaced are some of the most vulnerable, with an estimated 50 per cent being women, and 30 per cent being children. IDPs most urgent needs are around shelter and non-food items (NFIs), water and sanitation, health and food assistance. Both new and existing IDPs have reported being concerned for their safety and worry that the continued fighting will force them to move again. There are several IDP sites in close proximity to frontlines in and around Sirwah, and continued fighting could potentially displace an additional 3,700 households in the coming days should advances east continue
https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/iom-yemen-displacement-marib-flash-update-18-february-2021
and
(A H K)
Flash Update: Escalation and Response in Marib Governorate - Issue #6 | 1 Jan - 20 Feb 2021
The situation in and around Marib remains volatile.
Renewed fighting since the start of the year across parts of western, northern and southern Marib displaced more people mainly into Sirwah, Marib City and Marib Al Wadi districts.
The most recent escalation in hostilities has hit people in Sirwah district the hardest. Since early February 2021, more than 1,000 households are confirmed as being displaced from conflict-affected areas in Sirwah.
More people are expected to be displaced in the coming days as fighting escalates in and around Sirwah.
Two UNFPA-supported health facilities in Sirwah district were shut down as a result of the clashes with services shifting to Al Rawdah district.
The newly displaced are some of the most vulnerable; with an estimated 70 per cent being women. Urgent needs as reported by partners include additional food assistance, non-food items, clothing and protection of civilians still trapped between frontlines.
and
(B H K)
Yemen: Marib district profile - Understanding humanitarian needs
Marib is a centrally located governorate that was a pocket of relative stability from 2015 to 2019. However, it saw increasing levels of conflict when the Houthis launched a new offensive towards Al Jawf Governorate and Majzar district in Marib on 18 January 2020.
As of 11 February 2021, the Houthis control Majzar, Harib Al Qaramish, Bidbidah and Mahliyah districts and parts of Rahabah, Raghwan, Sirwah and Madghal. Marib city and Marib Al Wadi, which host 70% of the IDPs in the governorate, is still under the IRG control along with Al Jubah, Jabal Murad Al Abdiah and Harib districts (AP 14/02/2021; Sana’a Center 05/09/2020).
Flash flooding and conflict caused widespread displacement in Marib in the past 12 months. Over 106,500 people were displaced to and within Marib governorate between January 2020 and January 2021. Conflict intensified again on 9 February 2021 as the Houthi announced a new offensive towards Marib city.
https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/yemen-marib-district-profile-understanding-humanitarian-needs
(A H K)
I have just had a phone call with my humanitarian colleagues in #Marib. She said it''s heartbreaking to see how these IDPs who originally fled in 2015 after #Saudi military intervention in #Yemen will have to flee again from the Houthis' assault on #Marib
She's also said unless the fighting in #Marib ends quickly, a humanitarian disaster will unfold, with untold consequences. Now is the time for the int. community to act and get both warring parties to agree to at least a humanitarian corridor for the delivery of food & medicine
https://twitter.com/MrMasnai/status/1363181169903362049
(* A H K)
Yemen: UN rights office calls for de-escalation in Marib Governorate
The UN human rights office, OHCHR, appealed on Friday for a de-escalation in hostilities in Marib Governorate in northern Yemen as Houthi forces, also known as Ansar Allah, attempt to seize the area from Government control.
Spokesperson Liz Throssell said OHCHR is increasingly concerned about the fate of civilians, including at least 800,000 internally displaced people (IDPs), caught in the conflict.
IDP sites in the mountain district of Sirwah are without water, electricity and health and education services due to the intensifying fighting. As a result, thousands of people have been fleeing towards Marib City, some 20 km away, which is also coming under attack from Ansar Allah forces.
OHCHR fears more people will be forced to flee the area if the frontlines continue to move east towards the city and other populated areas in Marib Governorate.
“Given the potentially disastrous humanitarian consequences, we call on all parties to the conflict to de-escalate the situation and remind them of their obligations under international law to protect civilians from the adverse effects of the armed conflict”, Ms. Throssell said.
“This includes ensuring freedom of movement for the safe passage of civilians, including IDPs and migrants who are trying to leave Marib, as well as allowing humanitarian workers and assistance to reach civilians in the area at all times”.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/02/1085232
cp5 Nordjemen und Huthis / Northern Yemen and Houthis
Siehe / Look at cp1
(A P)
Das Strafgericht setzt den Prozess gegen die Spione fort
Das spezialisierte Strafgericht erster Instanz in der Hauptstadt Sanaa setzt die Verfahren für die Durchführung des von der Staatsanwaltschaft in der Strafsache Nr. (537) für das Jahr 1441 AH eingereichten Strafverfahrens fort in Bezug auf die Spionage- und Sabotageaktivitäten einer Reihe britischer CIA- und Geheimdienstoffiziere auf dem Territorium der Republik Jemen.
Wo das Gericht heute seine zweite Sitzung abhielt und den Angeklagten mit von der Staatsanwaltschaft vorgelegten Beweisen konfrontierte, die auf die direkte amerikanische und britische Rolle bei der Rekrutierung, Ausbildung und Leitung von Spionen zur Durchführung von Spionage- und Sabotageakten auf dem Territorium der Republik Jemen hinweisen .
Während der Sitzung überprüfte die Staatsanwaltschaft eine Videoaufzeichnung, die detaillierte Geständnisse der Angeklagten enthält, in denen die Phasen ihrer Spionage- und Sabotageaktivitäten aufgeführt sind, angefangen bei ihrer Einstellung, Einstellung und Ausbildung bis hin zur Verteilung und Umsetzung der ihnen zugewiesenen Rollen unter der Aufsicht des Kommandanten des britischen Geheimdienstes in einer Militärbasis, die von den Aggressionsländern am Flughafen Al-Ghaydah im Gouvernement Al-Mahra errichtet wurde.
Die Geständnisse beziehen sich auch auf die amerikanische und britische Rolle bei der Durchführung vieler Spionage- und Sabotageoperationen in den verschiedenen Gouvernoraten der Republik Jemen durch ihre Spionageelemente.
https://www.saba.ye/de/news3129643.htm
(A P)
Criminal court continues to try CIA spies
The Criminal Court in the capital Sana'a has continued to try spies over espionage and sabotage activity for a number of CIA officers and the British intelligence on the territory of the Republic of Yemen.
The court held its second session on Monday and confronted defendants with evidence provided by the Public Prosecution which indicates the direct US and British role in recruiting, training, and directing spies to carry out espionage and sabotage against Yemen.
During the hearing, the Public Prosecution reviewed a video recording containing detailed confessions of the defendants showing the stages of their espionage and subversive activities, starting with their recruitment and training and ending with the distribution of their roles and their subversive acts on the ground under the supervision of the commander of the British Intelligence Bureau located in a military base set up by the states of aggression in Ghaida city, the capital of Mahra province.
The defendants' confessions also refer to the American and British role in carrying out many espionage and sabotage operations in the various provinces of Yemen through their espionage elements.
https://www.saba.ye/en/news3129751.htm
(A P)
Yemen Friday Sermon by Houthi Islamic Scholar Yaseen Al-Abadi: The Saudi ‘Camel Herders’ Put their Billions in Jewish and Christian Banks – “May Allah Kill Them!”
https://twitter.com/MEMRIReports/status/1363783517184876546
(A E P)
So Does the world know that #Houthis in al-Jawf governorate hv bn preventing/stopping fuel & gas trucks from entering the areas under their control 4 around a month now? Not only that ,they confiscated around 20m Ltr of fuel in 400 trucks 3 weeks ago under pretext of smuggling!
https://twitter.com/Alsakaniali/status/1364020298559987716
(A P)
Film: Houthi senior leader Mohammed al-Bukaiti confirms again that they (#Houthis) make their decisions based on orders from God.
https://twitter.com/Alsakaniali/status/1364037304193601540
(A K P)
Film: The Houthi leader @M_N_Albkhaiti & Abu Ali Al Hakem, on whom the Security Council imposed sanctions, call for conscription of young males & ask ppl 2 donate in order to "liberate" Marib & take control of oil fields. #Houthis've been inciting against Marib since 9 February.
https://twitter.com/RiyadhAldubai/status/1363909200171130886
(A K P)
"Cleansing #Marib of Jews (govt forces and tribes) is a must..As well as raising Hussein flag on Saba Civilization (Marib)."
https://twitter.com/Alsakaniali/status/1363537974655336449
Raising Alhussain flag, a Shia concept alien to #Yemen
https://twitter.com/Ndawsari/status/1363603350428807174
(A K P)
While receiving released prisoners with a security operation in the city of Marib (photo)
https://twitter.com/BinCoronavirus/status/1363519830662479873
My comment: Obviously, Houthi chiild soldiers.
(A K P)
Marib battle cornerstone of Yemen independence: Houthi PM
The Houthi battle in the northeastern governorate of Marib against the Yemeni official government is the cornerstone of Yemen's independence, the Houthi prime minister said Saturday, accusing the Islah Party of exploiting naive people as sacrifices to fulfill its goals.
"It's the agents only who fight in Marib," PM Abdul Aziz Bin Habtoor told al-Masyra TV. "Islah, Qaeda, Daesh and Salafist elements were gathered under American-Saudi-Emirati cover, with American arms.
"All of us are concerned with supporting the [Houthi] army and public committees in the decisive battle of Marib, and preventing the agent Islah Party's exploitation of simple people," he added.
"Marib battle is of dignity. It's decisive battle with powers seeking to keep Yemen under custody. The army and public committees are doing the most heroic deeds in a battle that is the cornerstone of Yemen's independence," the Houthi PM said.
https://debriefer.net/en/news-23288.html
(A K P)
Abdulsalam: Marib Witnesses Liberation Battle after Years of Saudi Occupation
The head of the Yemeni National Delegation, Mohammed Abdulsalam, confirmed that the military advancements in the Ma'rib governorate against the forces of US-Saudi aggression and mercenaries are part of the battle to liberate Yemen.
(A K P)
Houthi offensive in Yemen’s Marib is battle against US, its allies: Official
The latest Houthi offensive in Yemen’s city of Marib is a battle against the United States and its allies, the group’s top military official Abdullah al-Sharifi told the militia’s al-Masirah TV.
“The fight now is not with our brothers, but it is between us and infidelity, America and its allies,” he said.
Film: https://twitter.com/Alsakaniali/status/1363299662678081537
(* B P)
Yemen: Women captives recall ordeal in Houthi prisons
Human rights groups document 1,181 violations committed by Houthi rebels against women, including torture, rape, murder
Three Yemen-based human rights organizations have accused Iran-backed Houthi rebels of committing civil rights violations, amounting to war crimes.
A joint report issued by these groups has documented 1,181 violations against women that included murder, torture, enforced disappearance, sexual violence.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Wesam Basindowah, director of the 8th March Yemeni Union Women, one of the authors of the report said women and children have in particular suffered and have been first targets of war in Yemen.
“The report aims to shed light on the types of violations that Houthi militias committed against women in Yemen, during the period from 2017-2020.
The report has documented 274 cases of enforced disappearance listed 538 female detainees and 71 incidences of rape and four suicide cases.
Quoting testimonies of released prisoners like Nasma Muhammad, the report claimed that she was kidnapped on March 24, 2019, by Zainabiyat -- a women's military group established by Houthis. She is currently receiving treatment in Cairo.
“During interrogations, I was accused of providing coordinates to the Arab coalition and being an agent of America and Israel and working in a prostitution network. They tortured, beaten, electrocuted, and sexually harassed and raped me,” she told human rights groups.
Her parents had to pay a ransom of 3 million Yemeni riyals ($6,000) for her release.
Asma al-Omaisi, 22, a mother of two children, is on death row on charges of spying.
She was arrested in October 2016. After 15 months, a Houthi court in the capital Sanaa pronounced the death sentence. Her request to appeal despite international requests has been turned down.
Sharing her experience, Noora al-Jrowi, president of the Coalition of Women for Peace in Yemen told Anadolu Agency that she was among 77 women arrested by Houthis after they organize a protest on Dec. 6, 2017, in capital Sana'a against Houthis.
“The intervention of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights succeeded in releasing us. At that moment, I decided to defend women's rights in Yemen. As protests continued, the arbitrary arrests also continued. The year 2018 was the worst year ever in the history of women's rights in Yemen,” she added.
“Violations of women's rights in Yemen, especially the rights of female prisoners in Houthi-controlled prisons is unspeakable. There are shocking facts about the sufferings of detainees,” said Basindowah.
Quoting the report, she said Houthi prisons are like graves for women.
After the killing of Ali Abdullah Saleh, the former president on Dec. 2, 2017, Houthi violations against women have become more systematic, said the report.
In a conservative society like Yemen, al-Jrowi believes that “society is the biggest obstacle in exposing Houthi crimes against women because announcing these crimes is considered as a bigger crime”.
To add salt to the injury and further alienate detained women from their families and society, they are accused of working with prostitution networks, so they remain in detention for long periods up to 2-3 years.
“Some women were killed in their homes while opposing arrests,” she added.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/yemen-women-captives-recall-ordeal-in-houthi-prisons/2153806
and
(* B P)
Houthis arrested, abused 1181 women in three years
The Houthi militia arrested and abused 1181 women in three years, rights groups said.
The Alliance of Women for Peace, the 8 March Bloc for Yemen’s Women, and the Yemeni Organization for Combating Human Trafficking released on Saturday a joint report on the terrorist theocratic militia’s abuses of women in the period from December 2017 to December 2020.
The organizations documented “274 forced disappearances, arrests of 292 female rights activists, and 71 rapes in jails.” The report said dozens of women were detained along with their young children.” The report said the detainees included eight followers of the Bahai religion and 293 girls below the age of 18.
The detainees came under various horrific abuses including killing, disfiguring, raping, waterboarding, slapping, electrocution, strangling, and constant abuses that force them to opt for committing suicide, to name just a few.
The team who prepared the report had gathered the information from survivors of Houthi jails and relatives of the victims, and through other methods.
http://en.adenpress.news/news/32287
and also https://republicanyemen.net/archives/27239
(* A P)
Yemeni Insurgents Kidnap, Blackmail Dozens of Merchants in Sanaa
The Houthi militias are once again targeting merchants and shop owners in Sanaa, after shutting down seven markets and 102 shops, and kidnapping more than 40 businessmen in a recent clampdown, local sources said.
The sources stated that Houthi gunmen have patrolled the markets, forcing shop owners and merchants to pay sums of money to finance the group's military operations.
The campaign launched two weeks ago was ordered by Houthi leaders after their meeting in Sanaa with industry and trade officials.
The meeting resulted in a field visit targeting citizens under the pretext of controlling prices and detecting violations.
Traders confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat that, since the launch of the campaign, the group has kidnapped more than 40 merchants from their shops in Sanaa, including 15 who trade and sell fertilizers.
The detainees were put in Sanaa prisons, and Houthis refused to release them or reopen the closed markets, unless they pay taxes.
The group forced hundreds of shop owners to pay between YR100,000 and YR1 million depending on the volume of their commercial activity. Part of the money will be allocated for the group’s military operations.
https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2816946/yemeni-insurgents-kidnap-blackmail-dozens-merchants-sanaa = http://en.adenpress.news/news/32288
My comment: By a Saudi news site.
(* A P)
Yemen: Tribal leaders say Houthis kill 5 from allied tribe
Yemen’s Houthi rebels killed a tribal leader and four of his immediate family in the rebel-held capital, tribal leaders said on Saturday.
Armed rebels, led by Houthi leader Abu Khalid al-Raei, gunned down Sheikh Ali Abu Nashtan on Friday along with three of his sons and a sister outside their house in the Arhab district in northern Sanaa, they said.
The cause of killings wasn’t immediately clear, and the rebels declined to comment.
The Houthis have cordoned the area as tribesmen pledged revenge for the killing of Abu Nashtan family, said the tribal leaders who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal.
The tribe of Arhab is a Houthi allay that helped the rebels’ takeover of Sanaa, triggering the Yemen civil war more than six years ago.
The tribe has fighters battling alongside the rebels in the war
https://apnews.com/article/civil-wars-yemen-sanaa-fa5d0f915c51a85e3a8c20dcb3ca77b5
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Houthis kill Houthis savagely in a serious turn in rift
Physical eliminations amongst the theocratic militia of Houthis have recently taken a serious turn this week, according to several sources.
Local sources in Sana’a told Okaz daily that supporters of Hizam Abu Nashtan, a Houthi warlord from Arhab tribe in Sana’a, have closed the Sana’a airport road and deployed gunmen after other Houthi militants stormed Nashtan’s house and killed him with his most of his family members (three sons and a sister) and seriously injured his wife.
The tensions are threatening to turn into a serious confrontation.
https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-45249
and
(A P)
Increased tension northeast of Sanaa over a heinous crime ystrday. 5 members of a family, Ali abu Nashtan,his 2 children, nephew& sister, w killed by gunmen driving a mil. pick-up. This family is from Arhab distrct & tribe, so tribesmen start now gathering near #Sanaa airport.
According to the tribal traditions, this crime is considered "a black shame", so Arhab tribe called for "Nakaf", mobilization of tribesmen, today in Sanaa.
https://twitter.com/Alsakaniali/status/1362941846452903937
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Sayyid Abdul-Malik al-Houthi: Yemenis are free people, with the duty to seek our independence
The Leader of the Yemeni Revolution, Sayyid Abdul-Malik Badreddin al-Houthi, has stressed that the military operations in Ma’rib, Jawf and other provinces comes in the context of the confrontation against the aggression forces, adding that “most of the locals in Ma’rib are fighting along with the army and Popular Committees.”
“Very few of the people of Ma’rib are fighting under the command of a Saudi officer and are trying to impose Saudi control within the framework of loyalty to America and normalisation with Israel,” Sayyid Al-Houthi said.
The Sayyid made these statements during his televised speech on Friday, on the occasion of the first Friday of the month of Rajab, which is celebrated every year in Yemen.
The Leader confirmed that” the fight against the enemies and their mercenaries is aimed at preserving the Islamic identity of the Yemenis, maintaining their rejection of any hegemony, and emphasising that no one can justify the normalisation deals with ‘Israel’.”
Sayyid al-Houthi indicated that before the September 21 Revolution, there was foreign tutelage, mainly by the United States of America.
The Leader explained that “we, as Yemeni people and an Islamic nation, seek to get rid of having to follow America and Israel.”
Sayyid al-Houthi stressed that the Yemeni people do not want to be under the guardianship of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, US, Israel or any foreign country.
“Yemenis are free people and their identity of faith imposes on them the duty to seek their independence,” he added.
Sayyid al-Houthi further stressed that Israel and the United States of America are “two sides of the same coin
and, longer: https://www.saba.ye/en/news3129342.htm
and a short article: https://debriefer.net/en/news-23275.html
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Sayyed Abdulmalik: Washington's Priority Is Empowering Israel
The leader of the Yemeni revolution, Sayyed Abdulmalik Al-Houthi, said, Friday, that "whatever justifications, used by those normalizing with the Zionists, to justify their loyalty to it, are false."
and also
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Ansarullah bites back against international hypocrisy on Ma’rib offensive
The Political Bureau of Ansarullah has on Thursday stated it deplored the official stance of some countries regarding the recent developments in Ma’rib province.
In a statement it issued Thursday, the Political Bureau considered the negative messages by some countries as “an international cover for the continuation of the aggression, siege and continued support for takfiri groups that are militarily involved with the invaders and occupiers.”
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Film: Not only do #Houthis push children into battlefronts, but they also send people with special needs to join the frontlines. This footage shows a deaf Houthi fighter being held captive by Govt forces and tribesmen in #Marib and Al Jawf provinces.
https://twitter.com/RepYemenEnglish/status/1362819394158624770
cp6 Südjemen und Hadi-Regierung / Southern Yemen and Hadi-government
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17th Love and Loyalty for Aden Festival (Photos)
Love and Loyalty for Aden Festival takes place each year in the southern port city of Aden, organized by Love and Loyalty for Aden foundation.
The seventh edition of the festival was held on Sunday, February 14, 2021. It provided a wide variety of activities and performances for people of all ages
http://en.adenpress.news/news/32308
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Human Rights Organization Accuses UAE Militias of Serious Violations in Yemen
The SAM Organization for Rights and Librates accused the UAE militias of adopting a policy of intimidation and enforced disappearance of civilians in Hodeidah.
The organization added that it had received a report from the sister of the 39-year-old detainee, Fuad Zuhair, from Hais district, south of Hodeidah governorate, confirming that he had been arrested on February 15 by individuals affiliated with the so-called “7th Brigade Giants”.
It indicated, according to Zuhair's sister, that Fouad was taken by two of those forces without showing any arrest warrant.
According to the victim’s sister, the organization said that Zuhair was previously arrested by this force on July 30 last year.
Sam organization confirmed that the repeated arbitrary arrests and illegal detentions reflect a worrying trend by the UAE-backed forces in order to intimidate opponents.
"This behavior has pushed a lot to emigrate from their governorate, which will create dangerous repercussions on the social level and population distribution in Yemen", it added.
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Yemen: UAE-Backed Forces Torture Journalist
The United Arab Emirates (UAE)-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) security forces in southern Yemen have arbitrarily detained a Yemeni journalist since September 17, 2020, apparently for his critical news reporting, Human Rights Watch and Mwatana for Human Rights said today.
A source close to the journalist, Adel al-Hasani, said that STC security forces chained, threatened, and beat him to confess to using his work as a journalist to spy for foreign countries. The STC authorities should immediately and unconditionally release al-Hasani unless he has been appropriately charged with a recognizable offense. They should investigate and take action against those responsible for torturing or otherwise ill-treating al-Hasani.
“More and more journalists across Yemen are subjected to threats, intimidation, violence, or detention simply for doing their jobs reporting on the country,” said Afrah Nasser, Yemen researcher at Human Rights Watch, “The Southern Transitional Council’s deplorable treatment of Adel al-Hasani further stains the appalling rights record of the STC and their UAE backers.”
Al-Hasani, 35, is an investigative journalist, producer, and fixer for international journalists, based in the southern port city of Aden.
https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/02/22/yemen-uae-backed-forces-torture-journalist = https://mwatana.org/en/uae-backed-forces-torture-journalist/
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Governor in Hadi puppet government wounded during clashes in Aden
The Saudi-backed Governor of Taiz province has been injured on Sunday, after UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) militias stormed his home in Aden city, southern Yemen.
Informed sources reported that Nabil Shamsan, the governor of Taiz in Hadi’s government, was wounded in the face during clashes between his guards and elements of the STC militia, led by Suleiman al-Kazkimi.
The sources pointed out that a dispute broke out between the guards of Shamsan’s house and the STC, which eventually developed into gunfire and the storming the governor’s home.
The coalition command in Aden summoned Nabil Shamsan and al-Kazimi, with the latter demanding that the governor leave the neighbourhood.
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Unknown gunmen kidnap pro-gov't official in Yemen's Aden
Unidentified gunmen on Sunday kidnapped a security official loyal to Yemen's government in the country's southern port city of Aden, a government official told Xinhua.
"A number of masked gunmen stormed the residential building of Taiz governor in Aden and kidnapped a senior pro-government security official from the same building," the local government source said on condition of anonymity.
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2021-02/21/c_139756846.htm
and also https://debriefer.net/en/news-23294.html
https://republicanyemen.net/archives/27298
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20210222-yemen-gunmen-kidnap-security-official-in-aden/
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Yemen IM suspends security leader over governor house raid
The Yemeni official interior ministry instructed the suspension of Aden-Lahj-Abyan special forces' commander and the formation of a fact-finding panel over the raid into the house of Taiz governor.
On Sunday, an armed group stormed into the Aden-based house of Governor Nabil Shamsan, and kidnapped two security officials.
Interior Minister gave orders to suspend Colonel Suleiman al-Zamiki over charges of being involved in the raid, official source in Aden police said.
https://debriefer.net/en/news-23320.html
(A P)
Food convoy from the joint forces in the western coast of #Hudeidah arrived #Marib today in support of the govt forces and tribes who fighting back #Houthis for over 2 weeks now.
https://twitter.com/Alsakaniali/status/1363529624576229381
(A T)
Pro-Saudi military commander survives assassination in Ma’rib
The sources said that Brigadier General Khaled Yaslam, commander of the “107th Infantry Brigade” of the coalition forces, was injured in a blast of an explosive device planted in his car on the road between Al-Ruwaik and Al-Alam areas.
https://hodhodyemennews.net/2021/02/21/pro-saudi-military-commander-survives-assassination-in-marib/
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Humanitarian organisation pulls out of Saudi-held Yemeni province of Abyan due to worsening security situation
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has on Saturday decided to stop its humanitarian activities in Yemen’s southern province of Abyan, which is controlled by Saudi-led coalition militias.
Local sources confirmed that the IRC suspended its activities after two of its vehicles were subjected to theft and armed robbery by unknown persons during the past days in the Louder and Mudiya districts of Abyan.
The sources explained that the gunmen seized a vehicle belonging to the IRC, which was located near the gate of its headquarters in Louder.
This comes after another car belonging to the IRC was attacked by unidentified gunmen, who forced its crew to deliver its contents to the outskirts of Mudiya district.
(A P)
61 recognized [pro-Hadi gov.] #humanrights & related civil society organizations in #Yemen co-sign statement with an urgent appeal about #Houthi military escalations in #Marib,& condemn in strongest terms Houthis targeting the last safe zone with more than 2 million #IDPs.
https://twitter.com/YemenEmbassy_DC/status/1362861438084280321
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STC Presidency calls on govt. to assume its responsibilities
The STC presidency stressed the need to continue pushing forward the implementation of the Saudi-brokered deal, thereby contributing to the enhancement of both security and stability in the South and consolidating the efforts in the fight against the pro-Iran Houthi militia, terrorist organizations and common dangers.
http://en.adenpress.news/news/32289
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Yemen STC imposes de facto power in Aden
The Emirati-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) on Thursday took steps legally trusted to the official government, which the council tries to marginalize.
The STC's designate chairman, Nasser al-Khobboji, accompanied by secretary-general Ahmed Hamid Lamalas (who is also Aden governor), paid a visit to the HQs of southern armed forces' joint operations.
These steps come as part of tasks assumed by the STC's Khobboji, while the official government's movements are still restricted inside the presidential palace and its role is limited to certain activities.
https://debriefer.net/en/news-23251.html
and by a STC news site: https://en.smanews.org/south-arabia/dr-al-khobaji-meets-with-prime-minister-and-head-of-saudi-coordination-and-liaison-committee/
and more activities of this figure: https://en.smanews.org/south-arabia/dr-al-khobaji-discusses-security-developments-with-commander-of-security-belt-in-aden-the-capital/
(A P)
Security forces arrest protestors in Yemeni Hadhramout
Security authorities in Yemen's southeastern governorate of Hadhramout arrested on Thursday protestors participating in a weekly rally, along with two reporters covering the event outside the provincial HQs.
Security forces arrested 17 people leading the protest, including two journalists, said local sources in Mukalla, Hadhramout provincial capital.
Yemeni rights activists called for urgent release of all the arrestees, deploring the "arbitrary arrests" and warning of any harms or dangers to the detainees.
https://debriefer.net/en/news-23250.html
(A P)
MP says Iran, UAE seek to divide Yemen
A member of the Yemeni Parliament, Hamid Al-Ahmar, accused both Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of working to divide Yemen to extend their influence in the region through their "local tools", in reference to armed groups they support.
"Iran seeks to divide Yemen to create an entity that follows it, and the UAE does not mind dividing Yemen to have a part of the country that is under its leadership through tools it believes it can create and manage that would enable it to control ports and islands," Al- Ahmar said in an interview with Al Jazeera.
Al-Ahmar explained that the solution lies in the national dialogue which proposed to create a unified entity with a type of autonomous administration or a federal system.
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20210219-mp-says-iran-uae-seek-to-divide-yemen/
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[from 2019]: YEMENI WAR AND SHIFT OF POWER: A REFLECTION ON THE HISTORY OF SOUTHERN ISSUE AND POSSIBLE SCENARIOS IN SOUTH YEMEN
This paper sheds some light on the Southern Issue with reference to 2015 war in Yemen and shift of power. It has briefly surveyed the history of Southern Issue and the conflict relating to this issue, passing by 2015 war and shift of power. It has presented the history of this period impartially and neutrally and then reflected on the possible political scenarios in South Yemen in the light of the present war. It concluded with some recommendations that may help the concerned politicians involved in the Yemeni crisis to bring peace and stability to Southern Yemen particularly and Yemen generally.
cp7 UNO und Friedensgespräche / UN and peace talks
Siehe / Look at cp1
(A P)
Martin Griffiths in Saudi Arabia for talks on Yemen
The UN envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths was in Saudi Arabia on Monday for a series of meetings with Yemeni and Saudi officials, according to a UN spokesman.
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1813881/saudi-arabia
and also http://en.adenpress.news/news/32304
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The Supervisory Committee on the Implementation of the Prisoner Exchange Agreement concludes its meeting
The fifth meeting of the Supervisory Committee on the Implementation of the Prisoners and Detainees Exchange Agreement between the parties to the conflict in Yemen concluded today. The meeting was co-chaired by the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
During the talks, the parties discussed strategies and possibilities to fulfill their commitments under the Stockholm Agreement. Although the parties did not agree to releases during this round of talks, they committed to keep discussing the parameters of a future expanded release operation. “I am disappointed that this round of talks did not amount to what we saw in Switzerland last September which resulted in the historic release of 1056 detainees” Mr. Griffiths said. “I urge the parties to continue their discussions and consultations, conclude the implementation of what they agreed to and expand the arrangements to release more detainees soon. I reiterate my call for the unconditional release of all sick, wounded, elderly and children detainees as well as detained civilians, including women and journalists”, he added.
The Office of the Special Envoy for Yemen remains committed to support the parties’ efforts in implementing the Prisoners and Detainees Exchange Agreement. The Office expresses its gratitude to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for hosting this round of talks.
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Blame game after Yemeni prisoner exchange talks end in failure
Government and Houthis accused each other of foiling release of detainees as the civil war escalates
The Yemeni government and Houthi rebels accused each other of intransigence after the failure of month-long prisoner exchange talks, another humanitarian setback in the seven-year civil war.
UN special envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths said on Sunday that the talks to release 300 prisoners ended in Amman without results. The prisoners include senior government figures, journalists and academics.
Government delegates said a decision by US President Joe Biden to revoke a Houthi terrorism designation emboldened the group, which renewed an offensive this month on the ancient city of Marib.
Majed Fadhil, one of the delegates, said the Houthi side declined to release half of 136 names presented by the government in a list that formed the basis for the talks.
“They kept changing their positions. Their intransigence was clear,” Mr Fadhil told The National.
He said the Houthi advance on Marib made the group less serious about pursuing a prisoner swap.
But Abdelkader Al Murtada, head of the Houthi delegation, said his side “tried every way to make the talks successful”.
He said the Houthis proposed releasing all sick and wounded prisoners from both sides, as well Houthi and government prisoners captured in Marib province.
“The talks ended without progress because of the intransigence of the aggressor powers,” he tweeted.
Mr Griffiths had imposed a ban on speaking to the media on both sides during the talks, in a bid to contain tension. His office, as well as the International Committee for the Red Cross, supervised the talks.
and also https://debriefer.net/en/news-23318.html
https://debriefer.net/en/news-23317.html
and
(* A P)
Yemen prisoner swap talks ends without a deal
A round of United Nations-backed negotiations for a prisoner exchange between Yemen’s internationally recognised government and the Houthi group have ended without an agreement and with each side blaming the other for the lack of progress.
The talks began in January in Jordan with the aim of freeing a total of 300 prisoners on both sides, including senior officials such as the brother of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. Hadi’s government, which is backed by Saudi Arabia, was ousted by the Iran-aligned Houthi group in late 2014, sparking an ongoing war.
“Although the parties did not agree to releases during this round of talks, they committed to keep discussing the parameters of a future expanded release operation,” the office of U.N. Yemen envoy Martin Griffiths said.
The negotiations were part of confidence-building measures aimed at restarting peace talks which have stalled since the sides first met in Sweden in December 2018. Back then the two parties agreed to exchange 15,000 detainees split between the two sides. Around 1,000 prisoners were exchanged last year.
A Yemeni government source involved in this latest round of talks blamed its failure on the Houthis, who he accused of not abiding by previous agreements regarding the prisoners.
“And because of their demand for prisoners not in the government’s possession, and their refusal to include in the exchange lists journalists sentenced to death that were supposed to be approved in this round of talks,” the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The head of the Houthis’ prisoner affairs committee, Abdul Qader al-Murtada, said on Twitter the talks had failed due to intransigence on the part of the government and its allies.
and
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Negotiations on prisoner exchange deal reported as failed
The National Committee for Prisoners in Sana’a announced on Sunday the failure of the negotiations on a new prisoner exchange deal, held in the Jordanian capital Amman.
“The negotiations on the prisoners’ file in Amman ended without any progress, due to the intransigence of the aggression forces and their mercenaries,” said Abdulqadir Al-Mortadha, head of the Committee, in a tweet.
He continued by saying, “We tried in all ways to succeed, and made a number of fair proposals to overcome the differences, but to no avail.”
Earlier, Al-Mortadha had accused the United Nations of responding to a Saudi veto in order to obstruct negotiations of the prisoners’ issue in the Jordanian capital.
He warned that representatives of the pro-coalition Islah Party sought to thwart the negotiations with new conditions outside the scope of an
https://hodhodyemennews.net/2021/02/22/negotiations-on-prisoner-exchange-deal-reported-as-failed/
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Yemeni prisoner exchange talks in Amman fail to reach agreement
UN Yemen envoy urged the warring sides to exchange prisoners after major deal freed more than 1,000 people last year
Almost a month of prisoner exchange talks between Yemeni officials and Houthi rebel representatives in Amman ended on Sunday without results, a United Nations official said.
UN special envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths said he was “disappointed” the talks did not yield the release of 300 prisoners, which the two sides have been negotiating at meetings in Jordan’s capital.
Thousands of Yemenis are in jail or have vanished in the seven-year civil war, although more than 1,000 prisoners were released in November last year after a deal in Montreux, Switzerland.
Mr Griffiths urged the two sides to remain part of a prisoner exchange process supervised by the UN and the Red Cross and to “expand the arrangements to release more detainees soon”.
“I reiterate my call for the unconditional release of all sick, wounded, elderly and children detainees as well as detained civilians, including women and journalists,” said Mr Griffiths, whose office is in Amman. The focus of the talks was on journalists and very ill people, as well as senior pro-government figures captured by the Houthis. Among them are Naser Mansur Hadi, who is the brother of Yemeni President Abdrabu Mansur Hadi, and former defence minister Brig Mahmoud Al Subaihi.
There was no immediate reaction from either side.
Abdel Qader Al Murtada, head of the Houthi delegation, said he had hoped before the talks for “success for this round and the release of the largest number of prisoners from all sides”.
My comment: This is a quite neutral report by an UAE news site. – The Hadi / Saudi side tries to blame the Houthis:
and
(A P)
Yemeni Govt. Says Houthis Responsible for Failure of Prisoner Swap Talks in Amman
Yemen’s internationally recognized government on Monday accused the Iran-backed Houthi militias of sabotaging prisoner swap talks in the Jordanian capital, Amman. Negotiations, which lasted over a month, concluded with no deal.
“They (Houthis) invented many flimsy excuses and justifications to thwart the negotiations,” said Undersecretary of Human Rights Ministry Majed Fadael, who is also a member of the government’s team negotiating the swap.
“Houthis argued that they don’t want talks to succeed because their militias will force their way into Marib governorate and free the group’s detainees,” said Fadael.
The negotiator went on to list some of the obdurately placed obstructions Houthis used to thwart talks.
“They requested names that we knew nothing of,” Fadael noted, complaining that Houthis also refused to release journalists and civilian abductees (academics, aged and sick people) despite the government delegation's efforts.
and
(A P)
Houthi group’s ‘intransigence’ scuppers prisoner exchange
The latest round of prisoner swap talks between the internationally recognized government of Yemen and the Iran-backed Houthis have stalled due to the Houthi movement’s refusal to release journalists and politicians, Yemeni and UN officials said on Sunday.
The Yemeni government accused the Houthis of ruining the talks by refusing to release abducted journalists and prominent politicians and military commanders, and demanding that the government release their fake prisoners.
“It is the Houthi intransigence to blame for the crumbling of talks. They strongly rejected proposals for releasing journalists and other prisoners and sent us fake names of their prisoners and demanded us to release them,” said a Yemeni government official with knowledge of the talks.
Relatives of the abducted people inside Houthi prisoners and local rights groups have expressed dismay over the breakdown of the prisoner swap talks.
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1813251/middle-east
and
(A P)
US delisting Houthis foiled prisoner talks: Yemeni gov't
The Yemeni UN-recognized government on Saturday announced failure of the recent Jordan-hosted negotiations on prisoner swap with the Houthi group.
The US administration's decision to delist the Houthis as a terrorist group was behind the talks abortion, spokesman for the Yemeni government said in press statements.
After removing their group from terror list, the Houthi negotiating team returned to obduracy, putting unachievable conditions that led prisoner talks to fail, Rjih Badi added.
https://debriefer.net/en/news-23292.html
My comment: LOL.
(* B P)
[from 2018] United Nations and the Arab Spring: Role in Libya, Syria, and Yemen
The role of the United Nations (UN) in response to the developments in the Arab world should be viewed in the context of the larger trends of thought and action in the world organization in promoting democracy as a norm during the past nearly two decades. The norm of establishing accountability as against impunity has found wide acceptance to define the relationship between the rulers and the ruled in the new century. Against this background, the great expectations about the UN as a powerful transformational tool toward democratization had received a setback with tempering experiences in responding to developments in Egypt, Libya, Syria, and Yemen since 2011.
Yemen comes out as a humanitarian nightmare, because of the exploitation of internal tribal suspicions by the regional geopolitical interests, which primarily spoiled all prospects of a promising role of the UN in providing a democratic framework of constitutional governance. The UN was unfortunately unable to exploit the opportunities thrown up by the Arab Spring as shown by its experiences
https://www.academia.edu/36596057/United_Nations_and_the_Arab_Spring_Role_in_Libya_Syria_and_Yemen
cp8 Saudi-Arabien / Saudi Arabia
(* B P)
New survey: Saudi Arabia Ranks First in Oppression, Tyranny
Saudi Arabia: Gulf House for Studies and Publishing published the results of a survey specialized in measuring the degree of political participation in the countries of the Cooperation Council and regarding the classification of Saudi Arabia as a kingdom of repression and authoritarian rule.
Through these results, Riyadh ranked last in the region in the index of political participation in light of the prohibition of political organizations and public freedoms, which constituted a new condemnation of the Al Saud regime, known for its severe dictatorship.
Saudi Arabia recorded a clear decline in several measures, the most important of which is the score "zero" in the political organizations’ scale, and very low scores in measures of constitutional life, general elections, transparency, freedom of opinion and expression, in addition to very complex problems in various of these measures, especially with regard to public freedoms and freedom of opinion and expression.
In this regard, a team of researchers from within the countries of the Cooperation Council worked on preparing the index, in addition to a number of specialists in the study of the Arab region in the Persian Gulf, specifically what is related to political and human sciences. Kuwait ranked first with 535 points out of 1000 points, followed by Bahrain with a score of 451 points, Oman has 440 points, while Qatar scored 405 points, the UAE has 316 points, and Saudi Arabia in last place with 192 points, according to News websites.
The results of the survey indicate a marked decrease in the level of political participation and the ability of citizens in the Gulf countries to participate and contribute to decision-making and public policy-making in their countries. The amount of 500 points, confirms the great need for these countries for civil society institutions, and an effective contribution to correcting this catastrophic defect.
The report indicated that Saudi Arabia is witnessing defects in judicial trials, arbitrary arrests and trials of dozens of citizens on charges related to freedom of opinion and expression, while all Gulf states recorded modest results in the scale of freedom of opinion and expression.
According to news sites quoting human rights organizations, the Saudi authorities have arrested six citizens who had Twitter accounts with hidden identities, and revealed that the former advisor in the Saudi royal court, Saud Al-Qahtani, threatened opponents that the Kingdom's government had its ways to reach the owners of fake accounts.
International organizations concerned with human rights strongly condemned in their statements human rights and freedom of opinion and expression violations in Saudi Arabia. Nevertheless, the country's authorities insist on continuing the approach of arbitrary arrests and violations against opposition activists.
and a longer report: https://www.saudi24news.com/2021/02/new-survey-saudi-arabia-occupies-the-first-place-in-oppression-and-tyranny.html
(A P)
Bin Salman Spends €150 Million on Real Madrid to Whitewash His Crimes
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman continues his efforts to search for a "lifeline" through sporting deals in an attempt to whitewash his crimes, the latest is a partnership with Spanish team Real Madrid.
Leaked documents have revealed that Real Madrid are in talks with Saudi Arabia’s state-owned Qiddiya project about a €150 million partnership deal that would include becoming the lead sponsor of their women’s team, according to The Times.
Bin Salman is trying through sports deals and hosting international events to launder his reputation and criminal image that swept the world after the Yemen war and the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
The Times has seen two separate documents detailing a proposed partnership between the club and Qiddiya, with a project worth over €6.5 billion being built close to Riyadh, intended to become Saudi Arabia’s “capital of sports and entertainment”.
It said that the approach to Real could be another attempt by the country to use “sportswashing” to gain international influence and positive publicity.
One of the documents, said to be from Saudi Arabia's ministry of culture last year, says a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was agreed by Real and Qiddiya.
(A P)
Sister of Saudi women’s rights activist urges star jockey Hollie Doyle to boycott Saudi Cup
Persecution happens every day, it is happening now, and it will continue during the Saudi Cup,’ says Loujain al-Hathloul’s sister
(A P)
Film: Daring rap song by young #Saudi rappers @merqazzz speaking on the stateless #Arab tribes who live #Saudi without any rights. The words are amazing.
https://twitter.com/AliAlAhmed_en/status/1363248089717432320
Another installment of the #Saudi underground rap group @merqazzz taking aim #MBS “failed #Vision2030”
https://twitter.com/AliAlAhmed_en/status/1363493242981998596
(A P)
Exiled dissident & friend @AnasAlg32779382 posts a photo of #Saudi strong man #MBas wearing a bulletproof vest. #MBS’s life is indeed in danger from both his cousins & the military.
https://twitter.com/AliAlAhmed_en/status/1363237922758090754
(B P)
Detained Saudi aid worker spoke to family for one minute in three years
Sister of Abdulrahman al-Sadhan tells MEE his family is desperate to see him released after years in prison without charges
One year ago, detained Saudi aid worker Abdulrahman al Sadhan spoke to his family for the first time in 23 months. The phone call lasted a single minute.
"It was amazing to finally hear from him because at least we knew he was alive," his sister, Areej al-Sadhan, told Middle East Eye. "After Khashoggi, you just never know," she said, referencing the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
Areej's brother was arrested on 12 March 2018 from the Red Crescent offices in Riyadh, where he worked. He was detained without a warrant or charges against him, and his family initially knew nothing of his whereabouts.
It was only until a month had passed that authorities told Sadhan's family that he had been detained, providing no further information. Despite their concerted efforts chasing up Saudi officials, they did not hear from him again for nearly two years, until a very brief phone call on 12 February last year.
"The only information we got from him was that he was in al-Hair prison," Areej, who is based in the United States, said, referring to the notorious maximum security facility 25km south of Riyadh which holds scores of political detainees.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/saudi-arabia-abdulrahman-sadhan-disappeared-prisoner
(* A K P)
Saudi Arabia to invest more than $20 billion in its military industry over next decade
Saudi Arabia will invest more than $20 billion in its domestic military industry over the next decade as part of aggressive plans to boost local military spending, the head of the kingdom’s military industry regulator said on Saturday.
The Gulf state wants to develop and manufacture more weapons and military systems domestically, aiming to spend 50% of the military budget locally by 2030.
“The government has put a plan that we will be investing in excess of $10 billion in the military industry in Saudi Arabia over the next decade and equal amounts on research and development,” Governor of the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al-Ohali told a defence conference in Abu Dhabi.
He also said the kingdom plans to increase military research and development (R&D) spending from 0.2% to around 4% of armaments expenditure by 2030.
Fortsetzung / Sequel: cp8a – cp19
https://www.freitag.de/autoren/dklose/jemenkrieg-mosaik-720b-yemen-war-mosaic-720b
Vorige / Previous:
https://www.freitag.de/autoren/dklose/jemenkrieg-mosaik-719-yemen-war-mosaic-719
Jemenkrieg-Mosaik 1-719 / Yemen War Mosaic 1-719:
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/
Liste aller Luftangriffe / and list of all air raids:
http://yemendataproject.org/data/
Untersuchung ausgewählter Luftangriffe durch Bellingcat / Bellingcat investigations of selected air raids:
Untersuchungen von Angriffen, hunderte von Filmen / Investigations of attacks, hundreds of films:
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