Coalition asks UN to help resume Sanaa airport flight operations

riyadh — The Arab Coalition to Restore the Legitimate Government in Yemen has requested the UN to help resume flight operations at Sanaa Airport by managing airport security and putting to rest the legitimate concerns of the Yemeni government.

Coalition spokesman Colonel Turki Al Malki said the Joint Forces Command followed what was published by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Yemen regarding banning commercial flights to and from Sanaa International Airport, adding that the coalition command is making efforts to ensure the safe arrival of all commercial, cargo and relief flights to Yemeni airports in Sanaa, Aden, Al Hudaydah, Seiyun, Mukalla and Socotra by issuing proper flight permits to all incoming requests, and assigning Bisha National Airport for air traffic management in accordance with UNSCR 2216.

“Closing Sanaa airport and limiting it to relief efforts came as a precaution to ensure the safety of all inbound commercial and cargo flights due to the Houthi militia’s attempts to smuggle arms into the country. As a result, we have assigned airports in liberated and safe cities as alternatives at the request of the Yemeni government. Thus, these precautionary measured should not be stigmatised as a cause of suffering for Yemeni people,” he was quoted by the Saudi Press Agency as saying.

He explained that the number of flight permits issued to every Yemeni airport ever since the beginning of operations has reached 5,765 for commercial, cargo and humanitarian relief flights, and asked the UN to contribute in resuming flights to and from Sanaa airport by managing airport security and putting the Yemeni government’s legitimate fears to rest.

“Should airport management and security be conducted properly, ensuring the safety of all inbound flights and stopping arms smuggling, the Joint Forces Command is prepared to restore normal flight activity,” he added — Wam