Red Cross hails ‘day of joy’ as prisoner swaps reunite families in time for Eid Al Fitr

Captives detained in Yemen’s rebel-held capital Sanaa landed in Marib yesterday as prisoner swaps continued for a third day.

A plane carrying 48 Houthis – the first of several such flights – landed in Sanaa, while another carrying 42 Yemenis flew in the opposite direction.

Deputy Human Rights Minister Majid Al Fadael shared photos of the group waiting at Sanaa’s airport, and of buses transporting Houthis to Tadawin airport.

After the aircraft landed, he shared images of the freed men walking across the tarmac to meet family members, some of whom they had not seen since the country’s conflict began eight years ago.

A total of 194 prisoners were exchanged yesterday, including four prominent journalists.

Among them was Tawfiq Al Mansouri, sentenced to death by the Houthis in 2020 and in poor health, his family told The National.

Prisoner exchanges began on Friday amid efforts to end to the conflict.

About 900 were expected to be swapped between the warring parties under the deal.

The process is being enabled by the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Saudi prisoners were included in the awap on Saturday as planes departed for Riyadh, while flights also took off for government-held Mokha on Yemen’s Red Sea coast.

On Friday, 318 prisoners were transported on four flights between government-controlled Aden and Sanaa.

Many are awaiting emotional reunions before the Eid Al Fitr holiday this week.

The ICRC described Saturday as a “day of joy” and shared images of family reunions. “As we repatriated 237 former detainees from Abha to Sanaa and 20 from Sanaa to Riyadh, hundreds of families can finally rejoice after being reunited with their loved ones,” said the organisation’s GCC representative Ala’a Nayel.

“The energy and emotions of these individuals as they finally get to hug their loved ones is indescribable.”