Increasing Flood Victims and Deteriorating Conditions for Yemenis

Khulasat – The Digest:

After months of promises for radical changes, a new government was announced in Sana’a. No clear reactions emerged from the internationally recognized government, Saudi Arabia, or the UAE, though sarcastic responses from activists on social media focused on a group photo of Sana’a's government members, dressed formally but without neckties. Meanwhile, UN Special Envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg continued his coordinated efforts to de-escalate tensions and maintain the ceasefire. Observers see success in his efforts, but he has not managed to halt the escalation led by the Ansar Allah (Houthi) group in the Red Sea. The group continued its military operations against vessels associated with U.S. and British interests in retaliation for what it describes as Israeli "crimes" against the Palestinian people in Gaza, as the group's leaders told the media.

In August 2024, the governorates of Hadhramaut, Aden, and Lahj witnessed protests over worsening living conditions, accompanied by scattered security incidents. It appears that the situation in all Yemeni regions is poised for further deterioration on multiple fronts, especially as reports from international organizations warn of exacerbating economic problems if the current situation persists. One international organization predicted that the number of Yemenis in dire need of urgent food assistance would rise from 18 to 19 million by January 2025.

Politics

The President of the Supreme Political Council, affiliated with the Ansar Allah (Houthi) group authority, Mahdi Al-Mashat, issued a decree forming a new government under the name “Change and Reconstruction,” headed by Ahmed Ghaleb Al-Rahwi. This government saw the reduction and merging of several ministries. Following this decision, additional appointments were made for deputy ministers, governors, and security directors. In Sana’a, Abdulmalik Badr Al-Din, leader of the Ansar Allah (Houthi) group, said that airstrikes since early January had killed 73 people and wounded 181. He noted that his group's fighters carried out several operations against ships during the first week of August, using 15 ballistic and cruise missiles and drones, while 10 airstrikes were counted by the U.S. and British forces on Ansar Allah-controlled sites during the same week.

In Hadhramaut, unrest dominated events in areas controlled by the internationally recognized government. The Hadhramaut Tribal Alliance threatened to take control of the governorate’s oil resources if its demands were not met. Dozens of the alliance’s armed men gathered outside oil companies after a 48-hour deadline for the government to meet their demands expired. The internationally recognized government responded by directing the head of the Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad al-Alimi, to initiate procedures to establish two power stations in Hadhramaut—one in the “coast” and another in the “valley,” with a capacity of 50 megawatts each. The stations will be jointly funded by the internationally recognized government and local authorities. In a speech at the Police Academy headquarters before departing the city of Mukalla, Alimi attributed the financial crises affecting areas under his control to the attacks by the Ansar Allah (Houthi) group on oil facilities, cargo ships, and international shipping lines.

Al-Alimi also announced the “formation of a committee to travel to Hadhramaut and review its service and development priorities, in collaboration with all state institutions,” according to the Saba news agency of the internationally recognized government.

UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg continued his coordinated efforts to de-escalate tensions in Yemen and met with the Saudi Ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed Al Jaber, in Riyadh. Grundberg also met with the ambassadors of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, highlighting the urgent need to unify efforts toward a political process and a ceasefire.
In related news, the U.S. embassy announced in a statement the appointment of diplomat Jonathan Peccia as Deputy Ambassador to Steven Fagin in Yemen.

Battlefronts

The Ansar Allah (Houthi) group claimed responsibility for targeting the oil tanker SOUNION, which is now at risk of sinking along with its cargo of 150,000 tons of oil in the Red Sea. They also targeted another commercial vessel in the Gulf of Aden. The group’s military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, announced that their forces had carried out two military operations against commercial vessels in both the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. According to Saree, these vessels belonged to a company that deals with Israel and had violated the group's ban on entering the occupied Palestinian ports. He added that the first operation targeted the SOUNION oil tanker as it crossed the Red Sea, "striking it accurately, leaving it at risk of sinking."

He further noted that the second operation targeted the ship "SW North Wind I" while it was passing through the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, “resulting in a precise and direct hit.” The spokesperson also announced a military operation targeting the vessel “GROTON” in the Gulf of Aden with several drones and ballistic missiles. Saree claimed that the strike on the commercial vessel was "accurate and direct," but the UK Maritime Trade Operations confirmed that “the ship's crew is safe, and the vessel is en route to its next port of call,” without mentioning any damage to the ship.

Incidents 

In Wadi Oumran, located in the Mudiyah district of Abyan governorate, 16 soldiers were killed and 20 others injured in a car bomb attack targeting soldiers of the Third Support and Reinforcement Brigade. Security officials in Abyan, speaking to local media, accused al-Qaeda of being behind the attack.

In Lahj governorate, Captain Sultan Bajash Al-Subaihi was killed when an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated in his vehicle in the Fayoush area of the Tuban district. In the Labous district of Yafea, a 55-year-old man and three of his daughters, aged between 35 and 17, were shot and killed by one of his sons, a 31-year-old, using a rifle. The perpetrator then turned the gun on himself.

In Shabwa governorate, the body of Mujahid Khairan, a young man who owned a cupping and massage therapy shop, was found in his apartment, stabbed multiple times in a crime surrounded by mystery. Also in Shabwa, armed clashes broke out between Al Abdullah bin Saleh and Al Ahmed bin Saleh tribes in the Dharaa area, west of the Nisab district, due to a long-standing tribal feud.

In Al-Dhale governorate, four girls from the same family drowned in a water reservoir in the village of Al-Sailah.

In the city of Aden, a 30-year-old man was found hanged in the Sheikh Othman Police Station two days after his arrest on theft charges. Also in Aden, security forces arrested several suspects in connection with the kidnapping of Ali Ashaal. According to Aden’s police chief, Brigadier General Mutahar Al-Shu’aeebi, Ashaal’s car was found in the Bir Fadl area in mid-June.

In another incident, the father of Haneen Ibrahim Al-Bakri pardoned her killer, Hussein Hurharah, moments before the execution was set to take place. The pardon occurred in the execution square at the central prison in Al-Mansoura district. Hussein Hurharah had murdered the young girl, Haneen, and injured her sister following a dispute with their father, Ibrahim Al-Bakri, over a traffic accident. The incident, which occurred on the eve of Eid Al-Adha two years ago in Al-Mansoura, had become a widely discussed public opinion case.

At the end of August, Aden's security department announced that 18 people were injured in a gas station explosion on 90th Street in the Al-Mansoura district. The explosion was caused by a gas leak from a tanker parked next to the station.

In Al-Bayda governorate, armed clashes erupted between members of Al Abu Saleh tribe and gunmen affiliated with the Ansar Allah (Houthi) group, resulting in the death of a Houthi leader and fighter and the injury of four others. The clashes were reportedly due to unresolved issues in a criminal case.

In the city of Rada'a, also in Al-Bayda governorate, local sources reported that brothers Mirdas and Adam Musa Al-Abbasi were shot dead by gunmen in front of Nukhbat Rada'a Hospital, in what is believed to be a tribal revenge killing. The perpetrators immediately fled the scene.
In Raymah governorate, a man killed Judge Hamid Al-Harazi, the head of the Salafiyah District Court in Raymah, southwest of the capital, Sana’a. The murder occurred due to disputes over judicial rulings issued by Judge al-Harazi.

In Sana'a, the Ansar Allah (Houthi) group announced that 30 students were injured at Al-Qulaiss Public School in the Bani Matar area due to the explosion of a war remnant. In another case in Sana'a, the Bani Bahloul and Bilad Al-Rous court sentenced charity activist Ghalib Al-Qadhi to death by stoning after convicting him of committing "immorality while married." Al-Qadhi’s name trended on social media after a woman released a video accusing him of exploiting her need by marrying her and then abandoning her after just a few months. The video went viral, prompting Al-Qadhi to post his own video defending the legality of the marriage while avoiding other details.

In Ibb governorate, a young man named Abdulmajid Al-Fakhri (24 years old) saved his neighbors from a flash flood in the Al-Khashabah area of the city of Jiblah. Pictures of Al-Fakhri rescuing his neighbors circulated widely, with social media users praising his bravery and describing the incident as a story of sacrifice and altruism.

In another development, a recent UN report revealed that nearly 800,000 liters of fuel owned by the World Food Programme (WFP) were destroyed during recent Israeli airstrikes on the port of Hodeidah. According to the WFP, these airstrikes resulted in the destruction of a total of 784,200 liters of fuel stored at the port. This fuel was intended for use in WFP services as part of the program’s ongoing humanitarian efforts. The report underscores the significant impact of these strikes on the operational capacity of aid services in the region.

Finance and Business

According to a report by the World Food Programme (WFP), total fuel and food imports to the government-controlled ports of Aden and Mukalla in southern Yemen amounted to 1.022 million metric tons between January and May 2024. The report highlights that these imports are the lowest in the past three years, reflecting a 24% decrease compared to the same period in 2023, when 1.344 million metric tons were imported, and a 42% decrease compared to the same period in 2022, when imports totaled 1.763 million metric tons.

In another development, the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) stated in its July 2024 analysis of anticipated emergency food aid needs in the countries it covers: "The number of Yemenis who will continue to be in urgent need of emergency food assistance is expected to rise from 18 to 19 million by January 2025, meaning that over 55% of the population will rely on this aid for survival." The analysis further indicated that Yemen will remain at the top of the list of 31 countries covered by the network in terms of the number of people requiring humanitarian food assistance until the first month of next year, followed by Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, and Ethiopia.

Poultry markets across Yemen have witnessed a record rise in chicken prices.

In Aden, the internationally recognized government announced the commencement of the rehabilitation project for the Fishing Port Building at a cost of over 30 million dollars, funded by Germany.

Rights and Freedoms

Gunmen affiliated with the Ansar Allah (Houthi) group stormed the office of the United Nations Human Rights Office in the capital, Sana’a. The assailants seized the office on August 3 after forcing Yemeni UN staff to hand over their belongings, including documents, furniture, and vehicles, according to a statement by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk. Accordingly, the UN Human Rights Office announced the suspension of its operations in Sana’a and other Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen.
Four Yemeni prisoners in Russia went on a hunger strike in protest against their continued detention for the past three months. They were arrested by the police for violating residency regulations and placed in detention under difficult conditions. They were sentenced to fines and deportation.

The organization "FOREVER WARS" reported that the Sultanate of Oman has deported all 28 Yemeni prisoners it had agreed to accept from Guantanamo Bay between 2015 and 2017 over the past few weeks. The reasons for the deportation were not clarified by the Sultanate.

In Aden, protesters carrying the southern flag stormed a celebration organized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the internationally recognized government on the occasion of International Youth Day, preventing the event from taking place. The protesters entered the celebration hall and removed the main banner, which featured an image of the President of the Presidential Leadership Council, Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi.

In Aden, workers and employees of the Republican General Hospital Authority went on strike, demanding the payment of their overdue salaries. The strike threatens to disrupt the medical and health services offered by the hospital, which serves the public in Aden and the surrounding governorates.

Meanwhile, centers, associations, and schools for persons with disabilities in areas under the control of the Ansar Allah (Houthi) group have continued their strike since mid-July due to the suspension of operational funds from the Handicap Care and Rehabilitation Fund (HCRF).

The Eritrean authorities released a batch of Yemeni fishermen who had been detained for varying periods. A total of 194 fishermen from the Taiz and Hodeidah governorates were freed.

A recent report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in its "Humanitarian Updates" stated that authorities of the Ansar Allah (Houthi) group have deported thousands of African migrants from the Sana’a and Saada governorates to the city of Aden, which is under the control of the internationally recognized government.

The internationally recognized government has approved the launch of the "Starlink" satellite internet service in Yemen after completing all the necessary procedures for its official activation. This move aims to break the Ansar Allah (Houthi) group's monopoly over internet services in the country.

Health

The number of patients requiring dialysis this year has increased to 105, compared to 85 cases in 2023, according to Ahmed bin Sama, Director of the Dialysis Center in Ataq, the capital of Shabwa Governorate.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning about the risk of waterborne disease outbreaks in Al-Hodeidah Governorate, western Yemen, due to the recent heavy rains and flash floods that struck the governorate. In a press release, the organization stated, "Floodwaters have submerged Bajil Hospital and several health centers in the districts of Al-Marawi’ah, Al-Zaydiyah, and Al-Zahra. The Tuberculosis Center suffered severe damage, with all equipment and medications destroyed. Additionally, several departments at Al-Thawra Hospital, one of the region's main referral hospitals, reported damages, but the facility remains operational, with emergency health services ensuring the continuation of medical care."

Arturo Pesigan, Head of the WHO Mission in Yemen, emphasized that the destruction of shelters and restricted access to essential services due to the floods will affect many people in Yemen, making it harder for communities to recover from the impact of the ongoing conflict. He stressed the urgent need for "immediate action to address humanitarian needs and mitigate the long-term consequences of climate change in the country."

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported over 2,500 cases of cholera, malaria, and dengue fever in Mawza District, Taiz Governorate, southwest Yemen, during the first seven months of 2024. In a post on its official account on the "X" platform, the organization stated that it treated a total of 2,542 cases of infectious diseases, including cholera, malaria, and dengue fever, at the Mafrq Al-Mokha Health Center. MSF has been supporting this facility since 2023 to strengthen primary healthcare in rural areas of Mawza, western Taiz Governorate. The organization further noted that its medical teams at the Mafrq Al-Mokha Health Center successfully treated 965 confirmed cases of malaria and 488 confirmed cases of dengue fever between January and July 2024.

Environment

The United Nations reported that heavy rains and floods have caused the death and injury of at least 24 people and affected nearly 159,000 others in Yemen since the beginning of 2024.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) stated in its "Yemen Market and Trade Bulletin" that food insecurity is expected to worsen significantly across most areas under Houthi (SBA) control from August through the peak of the dry season in October 2024.

Since the start of the rainy season in March, thirty people have died, and several others have been injured due to lightning strikes caused by heavy rains in multiple governorates, including Sana'a, Hajjah, Al-Mahwit, and Marib. In a related incident, landslides triggered by rain floods blocked the Sumarah Road, disrupting travel between Ibb and Sana'a. Meanwhile, in Dhamar, a child tragically drowned after being swept away by floodwaters while attending a relative's funeral at the Al-Khabani cemetery.

Regarding natural disasters, President of the Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad Al-Alimi, and U.S. Ambassador to Yemen, Steven Fagin, discussed the impact of the natural disaster that hit the governorates of Hajjah, Al-Hodeidah, Taiz, and Marib, in western and central Yemen. They also addressed the urgent need for international support to repair damaged services and assist the affected populations. Fagin expressed the United States' readiness to intervene urgently based on assessments from international organizations and humanitarian partners in Yemen, according to "Saba" news agency of the internationally recognized government.

The General Authority for Environmental Protection has denied circulating reports about the mass death of crabs in the Socotra Archipelago. In a statement, the Authority explained that its team visited Khayseh Beach in the Ghadhab area, west of Hadiboh city, and conducted an inspection. The team concluded that the incident was a natural occurrence, well-known to local fishermen. They clarified that what was found on the beach were the molted exoskeletons of crabs, not dead crabs. The statement further noted that there were no noticeable changes in the water, nor was there any sign of decay or insects at the site.

Youth and Sports

The Yemeni U-19 national football team has traveled to the city of Basra, Iraq, to play two friendly matches against the host nation, in preparation for the upcoming AFC U-19 Championship qualifiers set to take place at the end of September, according to the Yemeni Football Association (YFA).
Yemen's youth team will kick off its first match in the AFC qualifiers on Wednesday, September 25, against East Timor, and will also face the Maldives.

Al-Ahli Club of Sana’a has announced the signing of Moroccan coach Idriss Lamrabet to lead its first football team in the Gulf Club Championship, scheduled to start in October. Al-Ahli Sana’a will represent Yemen in the tournament, which includes seven other clubs: Al-Nasr from the UAE, Al-Arabi from Qatar, Al-Riffa from Bahrain, Al-Qadisiyah from Kuwait, Al-Ettifaq from Saudi Arabia, Dhofar from Oman, and Duhok from Iraq. The tournament will run from October 23, 2024, to April 15, 2025.

The coaching staff of the Yemeni U-17 national football team has announced the final squad for the 11th edition of the West Asian Championship, which will be hosted by Jordan at the beginning of next month. The team will compete in Group B, alongside Saudi Arabia and Oman, and will begin their title defense by facing Oman in the tournament's opening match on Monday, September 2, followed by a second match against Saudi Arabia on Friday, September 6.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has selected four Yemeni referees to officiate at the upcoming West Asian U-17 Championship and AFC U-19 Championship qualifiers. The Yemeni Football Association (YFA) stated on its official Facebook page that the AFC has appointed former international referee and Asian referees' assessor, Mokhtar Saleh, to evaluate referees at the West Asian U-17 Championship. Additionally, Mohamed Basaleh (main referee) and Ibrahim Al-Hassani (assistant referee) were selected to officiate at the tournament, which will take place in Jordan from September 2 to 11. Basaleh and Al-Hassani were nominated to officiate matches during the tournament.

The YFA also noted that international assistant referee Ali Al-Hassani will be part of the officiating crew for Group D of the AFC U-19 Championship qualifiers, which includes Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Australia, Afghanistan, and Macau. The matches will be held in the Saudi city of Abha at the end of September.

Culture and Arts

The first-ever book fair was inaugurated at the sports hall in Al-Ghaydah, Al-Mahra Governorate. The fair ran until August 22, featuring seven publishing houses and over 20 representatives from local and international libraries. The event included a variety of activities such as scientific, literary, heritage, and cultural seminars, as well as specialized workshops in statistics and Arabic calligraphy.

The novel “Leha Zahriyah” (Pink Beards) by Yemeni author and novelist Fikria Shihra has made it to the shortlist for the 10th edition of the Katara Prize for Arabic Novel.

Society

The Taiz Police Department launched a campaign to ban the carrying of firearms in the city. The police stated that only individuals in military uniform and those with military ID cards would be permitted to carry weapons.

Jordanian authorities have introduced a new requirement for Yemeni children entering the country. Yemen Airways announced that Jordan now requires children under the age of 15 to present a polio vaccination certificate to be allowed entry into the country.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported in its flow monitoring report that a total of 4,172 Yemeni expatriates returned from Saudi Arabia in July 2024. This represents a 17% increase compared to June 2024, when 3,556 expatriates returned.

A third cohort of women graduated from the Women's Police Division of the Facilities Guard and Personal Protection Forces in Aden.