UAE and Saudi lead disaster relief work on ravaged island
The UAE and Saudi Arabia are leading extensive operations to assist thousands on the disaster-hit island of Socotra in Yemen after Cyclone Mekunu.
Seven people were reported dead on Socotra, a Yemeni official told Reuters on Saturday. Forty people are missing.
The first UAE relief plane carrying 40 tonnes of humanitarian and food aid arrived on the island yesterday.
The assistance was provided by the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation.
The UAE relief teams have also succeeded in reopening Socotra’s main roads, which were blocked after the cyclone.
The powerful storm blew into the Arabian Peninsula early yesterday, drenching Oman and Yemen with rain and uprooting trees.
Four Indians and two Yemenis were rescued from a ship in Yemen that ran aground.
Yemenis, Indians and Sudanese were among those missing on the island and authorities feared some might be dead.
The Indian embassy in Muscat said that two vessels from the Indian Navy had sailed from Mumbai laden with aid for Oman.
Flash floods inundated Socotra streets, cutting electricity and communications. But humanitarian aid from the UAE and Saudi Arabia arrived on the island just hours after the cyclone receded.
“Khalifa bin Zayed Foundation, along with the Emirates Red Crescent are in Socotra to lead the relief operations,” the UAE ambassador to Yemen, Salem Al Ghoufaily, tweeted yesterday.
“The hospital of Khalifa bin Zayed in Socotra is fully equipped to receive those who need medical treatment and shelters were allocated for the homeless families.
“Meanwhile the power supply generators were maintained and operated in large swathes of the island. Food and winter clothes were distributed for the families at homes and at the shelters.”
Red Crescent workers “succeeded in reopening the main route linking Hadibou with the airport”, Rafat Ali a human rights activist from Socotra, told The National.
“We have seen the UAE envoy to Socotra, Khalfan Fadhel, driving a truck, trying to rescue those who found themselves besieged by the floods,” Mr Ali said. “We were so lucky to have brothers such the Emiratis to stand by us in such critical times.”
Part of Saad Ali’s house collapsed under the weight of the rain and he desperately tried to find shelter for his family. He set out under the downpour, in search of help.
“I saw a group of men with big trucks helping other neighbours,” Mr Ali said.
“I realised they were from the Emirates Red Crescent. I appealed for help so they moved us to a school.”
There they were given food, water, mattresses and blankets, clothing and a generator.
We have seen the UAE envoy Khalfan Fadhel trying to rescue those besieged by floods RAFAT ALI Human rights activist from Socotra