3 Yemen cities declared ‘disaster’ zones

UAE announces Dh100m aid; Hadi aide raises alarm for Aden, Taiz and Dhale

Yemen’s exiled government yesterday declared three areas in the country engulfed in fighting between Al Houthi militia, their allies and government forces as “disaster” zones, including the southern port city of Aden.

The government of the internationally recognised President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi raised the alarm for Aden as well as the cities of Taiz and Dhale, saying there is no electricity or water there and that these cities have run out of fuel, medical supplies and food.

“These cities are on verge of collapse,” said Minister of Communications Nadia Saqqaf.

Saqqaf said nearly a quarter million Yemenis, out of a population of 25 million, have been displaced. On average, 15 people are killed by sniper fire or random shelling daily in Aden, he said.

Also yesterday, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, ordered a Dh100 million contribution to the Yemeni Government’s Higher Relief Committee.

Shaikh Mohammad’s order aims to support Yemen and its people as a result of the coup against the legitimate government.

The relief committee was announced yesterday and is chaired by Khalid Al Bahah, Yemen’s Vice-President, to help alleviate the suffering of the people and provide relief and assistance to the needy.

In New York, US Secretary of State John Kerry said he will use a meeting with his Iranian counterpart later in the day to urge Iran to push the militia back to the negotiating table.