UAE building armies to divide Yemen, minister says
By al-Jazeera,
26 February 2018. Transportation Minister Saleh al-Gabwani denounces Abu
Dhabi’s moves to set up ‘tribal and regional armies’. A Yemeni government
minister has accused the United Arab Emirates of trying to
fragment the country by creating regional and tribal armies in the south.
26 February 2018. Transportation Minister Saleh al-Gabwani denounces Abu
Dhabi’s moves to set up ‘tribal and regional armies’. A Yemeni government
minister has accused the United Arab Emirates of trying to
fragment the country by creating regional and tribal armies in the south.
Yemen’s
Transportation Minister Saleh al-Gabwani said the UAE-backed troops cut off his
convoy on Sunday while he was en route to inaugurate a new port, in Balhaf, a
town that hosts the largest natural gas plant in Yemen and a major terminal –
now occupied by the UAE forces.
Transportation Minister Saleh al-Gabwani said the UAE-backed troops cut off his
convoy on Sunday while he was en route to inaugurate a new port, in Balhaf, a
town that hosts the largest natural gas plant in Yemen and a major terminal –
now occupied by the UAE forces.
He
said the so-called Shabwa Elite Force, one of several units that only answer to
the UAE forces, told him the Emiratis ordered that he be stopped from reaching
the port.
said the so-called Shabwa Elite Force, one of several units that only answer to
the UAE forces, told him the Emiratis ordered that he be stopped from reaching
the port.
“There
are tribal and regional armies set up by the Emiratis,” Gabwani later told
a gathering of local and government officials. “We as a state can’t accept
continuation of this situation.”
are tribal and regional armies set up by the Emiratis,” Gabwani later told
a gathering of local and government officials. “We as a state can’t accept
continuation of this situation.”
Yemen
has been engulfed in a civil war since 2015 with a Saudi-led coalition that
includes the UAE fighting rebels known as Houthis to restore the
internationally recognised government to power.
has been engulfed in a civil war since 2015 with a Saudi-led coalition that
includes the UAE fighting rebels known as Houthis to restore the
internationally recognised government to power.
But
the government, now based in the southern port city of Aden, is at odds with
the UAE forces based there – their official allies against the Houthis.
the government, now based in the southern port city of Aden, is at odds with
the UAE forces based there – their official allies against the Houthis.
The
UAE has trained and financed Yemeni troops who only answer to the Emiratis and
has also backed a newly formed pro-secessionist Southern Transitional Council.
Supporters of the council battled in the streets of Aden last month, calling
for the Yemeni government’s resignation.
UAE has trained and financed Yemeni troops who only answer to the Emiratis and
has also backed a newly formed pro-secessionist Southern Transitional Council.
Supporters of the council battled in the streets of Aden last month, calling
for the Yemeni government’s resignation.
Yemen’s
war has also triggered the world’s worst humanitarian crisis with more than two
million people displaced and millions living on humanitarian assistance.
war has also triggered the world’s worst humanitarian crisis with more than two
million people displaced and millions living on humanitarian assistance.
The
World Health Organization warned on Monday a cholera epidemic in Yemen that
killed more than 2,000 people could flare up again in the rainy season.
World Health Organization warned on Monday a cholera epidemic in Yemen that
killed more than 2,000 people could flare up again in the rainy season.
Peter
Salama, WHO deputy director-general for Emergency Preparedness and Response,
said the number of cholera infections had been in decline in Yemen over the
past 20 weeks after it hit the one million mark of suspected cases.
Salama, WHO deputy director-general for Emergency Preparedness and Response,
said the number of cholera infections had been in decline in Yemen over the
past 20 weeks after it hit the one million mark of suspected cases.
“However,
the real problem is we’re entering another phase of rainy seasons,” Salama
told Reuters news agency on the sidelines of an international aid conference in
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
the real problem is we’re entering another phase of rainy seasons,” Salama
told Reuters news agency on the sidelines of an international aid conference in
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
“Usually
cholera cases increase corresponding to those rainy seasons. So we expect one
surge in April, and another potential surge in August.”
cholera cases increase corresponding to those rainy seasons. So we expect one
surge in April, and another potential surge in August.”
Yemen
also relies heavily on food imports and is on the brink of famine. The United
Nations says more than 22 million of Yemen’s 25 million population need
humanitarian assistance, including 11.3 million who are in acute need.
also relies heavily on food imports and is on the brink of famine. The United
Nations says more than 22 million of Yemen’s 25 million population need
humanitarian assistance, including 11.3 million who are in acute need.
