Ahmed Ghaleb al-Rahwi, the Prime Minister of Government of Change and Reconstruction, On Saturday, emphasized that Saudi Arabia must completely lift its blockade on Yemen’s airports.
This came during and event organized by the Ministry of Transport and Public Works, along with its affiliated bodies, discussing the repercussions and impacts of the US-backed Saudi-led aggression on Yemen’s airports over the past 10 years.
“There is ongoing struggle from our staff despite the continuous destruction of our airports,” he said, adding that “we are carrying out repairs to keep our airports continuously operational.”
He also urged the Ministry of Transport to intensify its communication with international bodies in order to secure to secure the lifting of the blockade.
Al-Rahwi also noted that the aggression had recently adopted a new form of blockade, but the equation imposed by the Leader of the Revolution, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, forced them to retreat.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Transport and Public Works, Major General Mohammed Ayash Quhim, confirmed the deliberate destruction of the ministry’s infrastructure, facilities, and equipment by the US-Saudi aggression, noting that efforts are underway to overcome these challenges.
He further explained that the ministry has formulated plans for the coming years to prioritize and find solutions to address the aftermath of the aggression.
Quhim further assured that the ministry would intensify efforts to keep up with developments and updates in aviation matters according to the standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization.
For his part, Deputy Minister of Transport and Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority, Yahya al-Siyani, stated that while the world celebrates the achievements of the aviation sector, Yemen is experiencing a very different reality.
Al-Siyani affirmed that the blockade has worsened the suffering of the Yemeni people, resulting in an unprecedented humanitarian disaster, which has been described by 11 international organizations as an unforgivable crime.
He pointed out that Sana’a International Airport, which was once Yemen’s gateway to the world, is now limited to one destination with one airline. He added that the current situation at the airport does not meet the needs of millions of Yemenis who rely on it for health, education, work, and family reunification.
Al-Siyani called on the international community, particularly the United Nations, to bear its responsibilities and pressure the coalition countries to end the unjust blockade on Yemen’s airports and ports.
He also stressed that the international community should hold Saudi Arabia accountable for rebuilding the civil aviation facilities it destroyed in Yemen, which has cost over $7 billion.
