Yemen Humanitarian Developments: Crane Installations & Central Bank Injection

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --

Mobile Cranes Arrive in Hodeidah Port

Last month, on December 20, 2017, Ambassador Mohammed Al Jabir, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to Yemen, announced in a joint press conference with the Coalition Spokesperson, Col. Turki Al Maliki, that cranes will be allowed to enter the Port of Hodeidah to support aid distribution.  On Monday, January 15, 2018, four World Food Program mobile cranes arrived in the Iranian-backed Houthi militia controlled Port of Hodeidah and have been installed; which will further facilitate efficient dissemination of supplies to the Yemeni people.

The Coalition, in line with the UN Verification and Inspection Mechanism, has been screening ships and goods passing through the Hodeidah Port; given that the Iranian-backed Houthi militia have been leveraging its control for their own gain to expand their military operations in Yemen and continue to threaten regional security by:

• Smuggling in weapons, which, according to UN analysis and US accounts, were previously not present in the area
• Blackmailing ship operators; forcing them to pay $100,000 to offload goods and aid supplies
• Misusing oil imports/exports by diverting them to the black market to enfranchise themselves
• Looting commercial aid and shipments

Despite these egregious acts, which are in violation of UN Res. 2216 and allowed the continuous attacks on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through the use of smuggled ballistic missiles, and despite the Iranian-backed Houthi militias continued refusal to accept the UN Special Envoy's proposal for the transfer of the port to the control of the UN, a proposal endorsed by the Coalition-- the Coalition cleared the mobile cranes for entry and installation.

This step is in line with the Coalition's Comprehensive Humanitarian Plan for Yemen, which aims to alleviate the suffering of all Yemeni people in the immediate and long term. 

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Capital Injection to Yemen Central Bank to Boost Currency

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is determined to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people and to help them cope with the economic burdens resulting from the crimes and violations committed by Iranian-backed Houthi militias. The Iranian-backed Houthis are looting the state as they seize government revenues, including those generated from oil and its derivatives. They acquire this revenue in Yemeni Riyal as they manipulate its exchange rate. They are doing all this to pursue their own destructive objectives at the expense of the Yemeni people. Their actions have resulted in a steady devaluation of the currency, which has significantly damaged the lives of Yemenis for several years.

To address the situation, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has issued a directive to transfer a USD $2 billion deposit to the Central Bank of Yemen, in continuation of the Kingdom's support of the Yemeni people, taking the total amount given by the Kingdom to the Central Bank of Yemen to USD $3 billion. These funds have been sent with the aim to boost Yemen's financial and economic situation while bolstering the Yemeni Riyal. As the value of the Riyal goes up, the living conditions of Yemeni citizens will change for the better.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reaffirms its support for the Yemeni Government. The Kingdom will continue to assist Yemen in its efforts to restore security and stability.

SOURCE Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Information Office