Ministry of Transport and Public Works Reveals Losses Exceeding $23.224 Billion Due to Aggression

 

The Ministry of Transport and Public Works held a press conference today in Sana’a to review the extent of the cumulative damage and losses incurred by its various sectors during 11 years of aggression and blockade, amounting to $23,224,635,000.

During the conference, held at the General Authority for Roads and Bridges, Minister of Transport and Public Works Mohammed Qahim emphasized that this event is not merely a statistical review, but rather a testament to the resilience and strength of the Yemeni people, who are confronting the most formidable conspiracies of global arrogance. He pointed out that Yemen’s honorable stances today have made it a force to be reckoned with in all international forums, drawing this steadfastness from the slogan of “The Cry of Truth in the Face of Falsehood,” before which the arrogance of the aggressors has crumbled. Minister Qahim attributed this legendary steadfastness to God Almighty, and then to the wise revolutionary leadership represented by Sayyid Abdul-Malik Badr al-Din al-Houthi, the embodiment of resilience and standard-bearer of the Quranic project, who confronted the enemies of God and the nation without fear or weariness, along with the Supreme Political Council led by His Excellency Field Marshal Mahdi al-Mashat, and all the free people of the nation who stood against the aggression.

He explained that restoring the operational readiness of the facilities destroyed by the aggression within a few weeks represented a powerful blow to the forces of aggression, who had wagered on paralyzing these vital installations, given their role as the lifeline of the Yemeni citizen. He emphasized that the integration among state institutions is the secret behind the steadfastness that has astonished the world and overcome all the repercussions of the catastrophic blockade.
The Minister of Transport and Public Works emphasized that the blood of the martyrs and the sacrifices of the Yemeni people are the fuel driving the reconstruction and development process, and that Yemen is moving forward on the path of freedom and sovereignty, adhering to its faith-based approach that bows to none but God, and guided by the vision of its leadership, which holds its head high in a time of defeat.

For his part, the Minister of Oil and Minerals, Dr. Abdullah Al-Amir, noted the importance of these conferences in conveying a comprehensive picture of the immense losses and damage inflicted upon the country, its land, its people, and its resources due to the ongoing 11-year American-Saudi-Zionist aggression and blockade.

He affirmed that the aggression coalition aimed to dissuade the Yemeni people from their courageous and faithful stances with God Almighty and with the Arab and Islamic nation. However, the Yemeni people have persevered despite all the sacrifices they have made and the losses they have suffered, and they will remain steadfast until victory is achieved. Deputy Minister of Information Dr. Omar al-Bukhaiti addressed the importance of this conference in revealing the significant losses inflicted on the infrastructure of the Ministry of Transport and Public Works sectors as a result of the aggression and blockade led by Arab countries that were supposed to be supporting any Arab nation. Instead, they turned against the Yemeni people, who have never harmed any Arab country and have always been a source of support and assistance to all Arab and Islamic nations.

He stated, “Within the framework of coordination and cooperation within the government of change and reconstruction, we were keen to participate in these conferences, which demonstrate the extent and scale of the crimes and destruction caused by the aggression and how it sought to destroy everything in this country, which has resisted the forces of arrogance and hegemony.”

He added that the importance of this conference stems from the significance of the event through which the aggressor countries, led by Saudi Arabia, acting on orders from America and with a declaration of war from Washington, attempted to subjugate Yemen and break its will. The Deputy Minister of Information emphasized the importance of these conferences in highlighting the legendary resilience demonstrated by the Yemeni people, leadership, and army in the face of the arrogance and aggression of the imperialist powers. He also noted the significant achievements in reconstruction and production despite the catastrophic economic conditions and repercussions caused by the aggression and blockade.

He further pointed out that the scale of destruction, crimes, and human suffering inflicted on the Yemeni people and their infrastructure by the aggression has exposed the falsehood of the slogans raised by the imperialist powers regarding human rights, women’s and children’s rights, and other such deceptive claims. It has revealed their true face, their malicious intentions, and their colonial ambitions in the region.
Dr. Al-Bukhaiti affirmed that the Yemeni people, thanks to their steadfastness and the wisdom of their leadership, represented by Mr. Abdul-Malik Badr al-Din al-Houthi and His Excellency Field Marshal Mahdi al-Mashat, President of the Supreme Political Council, were able to turn the tide and emerge from a critical juncture during which the enemy sought to destroy, subjugate, occupy, and plunder all of Yemen’s resources.

He also emphasized that the aggression did not weaken the resolve of the Yemenis but rather strengthened their determination and resilience to overcome the impossible and stand against the forces of arrogance, despite all the sacrifices and martyrs the country has offered, including the martyred Prime Minister Ahmed Ghaleb al-Rahawi and a number of ministers in the Government of Change and Reconstruction. At the conference, which was attended by the Chairman of the Land Transport Regulatory Authority, Dr. Ibrahim Al-Muayyad, and the acting chairmen of the boards of directors of Yemen Airways, Khalil Jahaf, and the Civil Aviation and Meteorology Authority, Arif Musleh, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Corporation for Roads and Bridges, Engineer Abdulrahman Al-Hadrami, presented a detailed report on the damages and losses incurred by the Ministry of Transport and Public Works sectors during 11 years of aggression and blockade, amounting to $23,224,635,000. He explained that the losses to the tripartite transport system (land, sea, and air) reached $19,125,273,000, while the losses to the roads sector amounted to $4,099,362,000.

The Chairman of the Corporation also addressed the human losses among employees of various entities affiliated with the Ministry of Transport and Public Works as a result of the aggression, with the total number of martyrs reaching 287, the majority of whom were killed at their workplaces while performing their assigned duties and tasks in service to the Yemeni people. The report reviewed the estimated damage and losses incurred by the General Authority of Civil Aviation and Meteorology, amounting to more than $2,252,225,000. The aggression destroyed Sana’a International Airport, Taiz International Airport, Hodeidah International Airport, Sa’dah Airport, and Al-Bayda Airport, rendering most of them completely inoperable, with the exception of Sana’a Airport.

Al-Hadrami stated in the report that the air blockade imposed by the aggression continues to this day, preventing more than two-thirds of the Yemeni population from traveling through Sana’a International Airport. This also affected Yemeni pilgrims, whose departure for Hajj this year coincided with the conference, preventing more than eight thousand pilgrims, particularly the elderly, from performing the Hajj rituals. Furthermore, expatriates were prevented from visiting their families within the country.

The report indicated that Yemen Airways suffered significant direct and indirect damage and losses as a result of the aggression, amounting to more than $2,881,461,000. Since the beginning of 2015, the aggression has deliberately targeted the company’s aircraft, facilities, and operational infrastructure.

He addressed the losses incurred by the Yemeni Red Sea Ports Corporation, amounting to $8,785,111,000, resulting from the direct targeting of the ports of Hodeidah, Salif, Mocha, and Ras Isa, and the destruction of equipment, machinery, gantry cranes, docks, and other essential infrastructure upon which these ports depend.

The report also highlighted the significant damage and losses suffered by the General Authority for Regulating Land Transport Affairs due to the US-Saudi-Emirati-Israeli aggression, exceeding $371,042,000. These losses encompass all important land ports and crossings, some of which were transformed into military barracks by the aggressor states. This included the destruction of buildings, yards, warehouses, and public transport buses, as well as the looting of port revenues and fees.

Engineer Al-Hadrami further noted the extent of the damage and losses suffered by the General Authority for Maritime Affairs as a result of the aggression, amounting to $4,823,761,000. This resulted from the direct bombing of the Authority’s buildings in Hodeidah, Sana’a, Aden, and Mocha, and the targeting of the Authority’s equipment, facilities, and assets, including the Automatic Identification System (AIS), maritime lighthouses, and other assets. Regarding the damage to the roads sector, the report stated that the aggression destroyed 102 bridges and 8,185 kilometers of roads. It indicated that the estimated cost of rebuilding the bridges and culverts reached $462,225,000, equivalent to 250 billion riyals, while the cost of rebuilding the damaged roads amounted to $1,635,665,000, equivalent to 883,260,000 riyals.

The report confirmed that the total direct and cumulative material losses from the damaged bridges and roads reached $2,098,000, equivalent to 1,132,861,000 riyals. Meanwhile, the indirect losses (economic, social, environmental, psychological, and others) resulting from the targeting of roads and bridges amounted to $1,833,000, equivalent to 989,913,000 riyals. This brings the total direct and indirect losses to $3,931,000, equivalent to 2,122,775,000 riyals.

Engineer Al-Hadrami summarized the direct and indirect damages and losses incurred by the General Authority for Roads and Bridges as a result of the US-Saudi-Emirati-Zionist aggression, amounting to $168,298,000.

He explained that the Authority suffered significant damage and losses to its various assets and properties, including equipment, machinery, materials, buildings, and other assets, with direct losses amounting to $54,730,000, while indirect losses reached $113,568,000.

Al-Hadrami stated that the aggression coalition, through bombing roads and bridges, particularly in mountainous areas and valleys, sought to sever roads, halt traffic, and disrupt movement, especially during flash floods in the valleys where the bombed bridges are located, or when trucks and trailers overturn while crossing the targeted areas. This caused immense suffering for citizens.

He pointed out that the General Authority for Roads and Bridges was quickly working to create temporary diversions and alternative dirt roads alongside the targeted bridges and roads to ensure the continuation of traffic flow, before later undertaking the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the roads and bridges destroyed by the aggression.

The conference, which was attended by the Deputy Chairman of the General Authority for Roads, Engineer Amir al-Din al-Houthi, the Director General of Sana’a International Airport, Khaled al-Shaif, a number of ministry officials and representatives from affiliated agencies, and media correspondents, included a presentation of footage showing the damage and losses incurred by the ministry, its agencies, and institutions.