A meeting at Sana’a International Airport discusses UNEPS projects at the airport

The Caretaker Minister of Transport, Abdul Wahab Al-Durrah, discussed today at Sana’a International Airport with the Director of the United Nations Office for Project Services in the Middle East, Muhammad Othman Akram, the projects submitted to the airport by UNEPS.

The meeting, which was attended by the Head of the Civil Aviation and Meteorology Authority, Dr. Muhammad Abdel Qader, and the Head of the Immigration and Passports Authority, Major General Ismail Al-Muayyad, reviewed the projects that UNEPS will implement at Sana’a Airport during the next year to provide quality services to travelers and civil aviation.

The meeting, which included the Undersecretary of the Civil Aviation and Meteorology Authority, Raed Jabal, and the Director of Sanaa International Airport, Khaled Al-Shayef, touched on the possibility of enhancing support for the implementation of important projects at the airport and the rehabilitation of the infrastructure that was directly destroyed by the aggression.

In the meeting, Minister Al-Durra confirmed that Sana’a International Airport is still under an air blockade without justification, except for one destination to Jordan.

He explained that the airport provides ground navigation services in accordance with international requirements despite the scarcity of advanced devices and equipment that were systematically and deliberately targeted by the aggression.

The caretaker Minister of Transport praised UNPS’s support for Sana’a International Airport in some equipment, calling for more technical support for the airport as it provides navigational services to aircraft of the United Nations, its affiliated organizations, and humanitarian organizations operating in Yemen.

He said, “The Ministry of Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority implemented self-financing projects until Sana’a International Airport was restored to readiness, and we aspire for more and improved performance, especially as we are about to open the rest of the destinations and increase the number of passengers from Sana’a International Airport during the year 2024.”
Sana’a International Airport was considered the Republic of Yemen’s first gateway to the world. It was subjected to the destruction of infrastructure, devices and navigational equipment. He pointed out that the United Nations supports and finances airports that were not subjected to bombing and destruction as Sana’a Airport was subjected to.

Minister Al-Durra called on UNEPS to rehabilitate Taiz and Hodeidah international airports due to their humanitarian and economic importance in providing services to the Yemeni people.

In turn, the head of the Civil Aviation and Meteorology Authority confirmed that Sanaa International Airport operates with the previous devices and equipment and has been modernized with Yemeni cadres with long experience in the field of civil aviation in accordance with international requirements and the International Aviation Organization (ICAO).

While the Director of the United Nations Office for Project Services in the Middle East confirmed that UNPS is working as much as possible to provide what Sana’a International Airport requires, and funding will be sought from donors to provide what has been agreed upon.

In addition, the caretaker Minister of Transport and the Director of the United Nations Office for Project Services, along with the President of the Civil Aviation Authority and the Authority’s Undersecretary, were briefed on the progress of work at the airport and the equipment provided by UNEPS to the airport.

During the visit to the airport’s power station, lounges and other facilities, they heard specialists explain the necessary requirements that would provide distinguished air navigation services.