Al-Marani and Grisley review the readiness of Sana’a International Airport
The Minister of Transport, Amer Al-Marani, and the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen, William David Grisley, was briefed on the operational and technical readiness of Sana’a International Airport, and its navigational services for United Nations aircraft and organizations.
Al-Marani and Gressly, together with the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport, Abdullah Al-Ansi, the deputy of the Civil Aviation Authority, Raed Talib Jabal, the Assistant Undersecretary for the Airports Sector, Yahya Al-Kahlani, and the Director General of Sana’a Airport, Khaled Al-Shayef, inspected the damages caused to the airport as a result of the raids of the aggression.
They were also briefed on the air navigation devices and equipment targeted by the coalition of aggression, and the damages caused to communication devices and direct communication with aircraft.
They inspected the readiness of the power station for the main runway for landing aircraft, the arrival and departure halls and ceremonies, the services provided to United Nations passengers, and the security and safety requirements in accordance with the requirements in force at all global airports and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The Minister of Transport reiterated the necessity of opening Sana’a International Airport to all civil and humanitarian flights, pointing out that the airport is a civilian that provides air navigation services to United Nations aircraft and international and humanitarian organizations, in accordance with the terms and requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization.
He denied what was being promoted by the media of the coalition of aggression, about the presence of military manifestations at Sana’a airport or its use for military purposes.. He considered this promotion to mislead world opinion and falsify the facts, so as not to open the airport that serves more than two-thirds of the population of the Republic of Yemen.
And he indicated that the visit of the United Nations Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs is an opportunity to see the extent of the damage caused to the airport, and to refute the claims of the countries of the coalition of aggression in justifying the continued imposition of their ban on him by an individual decision of the Saudi Ministry of Defense, ignoring international laws and agreements that prevent the closure of airports to civilians even during wars.
Minister Al-Marani pointed to the operational and technical readiness of Sana’a Airport to receive civil flights, calling on the United Nations and the Security Council to quickly open the airport, to benefit citizens, especially patients in the first place, students and those stranded in diaspora countries, and expatriates in countries of the world.
He explained that the role of the United Nations, in opening Sana’a International Airport, is absent, although humanitarian work is a priority of the United Nations and international organizations.
Bedouin, the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen indicated that his visit to Sana’a International Airport aims to see the extent of its readiness, stressing the need to neutralize the airport, as it is a civilian airport that serves all segments of society, which requires opening it to all civil flights.
“We will work with all our energies to open the airport and save the lives of patients suffering from chronic diseases,” he said, stressing that Sana’a Airport enjoys good technical readiness and operation that enables it to receive flights, despite its closure for several years.
Grisley made it clear that he would work hard to solve the problems facing Sana’a Airport and neutralize it from targeting. He added, “We will continue to press for the opening of Sana’a Airport, as part of our keenness to alleviate the suffering of Yemenis.
