The Deputy of the Civil Aviation Authority confirms in a press conference the suspension of United Nations flights

The Deputy of the Public Authority for Civil Aviation and Meteorology, Raed Jabal, confirmed the suspension of flights of the United Nations and international humanitarian organizations operating in Yemen to and from Sana’a International Airport until further notice.

In a press conference held at Sana’a International Airport, Agent Jabal attributed the suspension of flights to the blatant aggression of the US-Saudi aggression coalition, which targeted yesterday evening vital facilities at Sana’a Airport, including airport fuel stations and navigational equipment.

He said at the conference, which was attended by the Deputy Resident Coordinator of the United Nations for Humanitarian Affairs in Sana’a, Diego Zorrilla, “All flights of the United Nations and international humanitarian organizations operating in Yemen to Sana’a airport will be suspended until the targeting of the airport is stopped, and the United Nations provides guarantees that airport staff and facilities will not be targeted and the provision of navigational equipment and derivatives equipment oil so that we can provide services to the United Nations.”

He explained that the US-Israeli, Saudi-Emirati aggression aircraft destroyed the entire buildings of the Institute of Civil Aviation, Meteorology and Quarantine yesterday, in a dangerous sign to make Yemen a arena for infectious diseases, including Corona disease.

He pointed out that the aggression aircraft also destroyed cargo hangars in which a large quantity of medicines belonging to humanitarian organizations are located, and oil tankers that supply United Nations planes and international humanitarian organizations with fuel and oil derivatives belonging to the branch of the oil company at the airport.

Jabal confirmed that the authority spends about 200 million riyals per month on Sana’a International Airport between salaries, wages and operating expenses in order to provide navigation services for United Nations flights and humanitarian organizations operating in Yemen only.

He also confirmed the readiness of the authority since the beginning of the aggression to provide services at the highest level, and we did not ask the United Nations except for what it offers at international airports in terms of wages or expenses in return for landing at airports at its minimum limits.

The Undersecretary of the Aviation Authority expressed regret that the United Nations did not interact, which asked it to provide guarantees not to target Sanaa airport and its cadres and to transfer its necessary navigational equipment.. Reiterating that Sanaa Airport is a civilian airport that provides its services in accordance with international conditions and standards applicable at airports around the world.

He denied what the countries of the coalition of aggression, led by Saudi Arabia, are promoting by informing them of the use of Sana’a International Airport for military purposes. He said, “The coalition of aggression seeks to paralyze air traffic at Sanaa Airport by fabricating lies, slanders and flimsy justifications to mislead world opinion and the international community for the continued imposition of the embargo on Sana’a International Airport, which serves two-thirds of Sana’a International Airport. residents of the Republic of Yemen.

The Undersecretary of the Aviation Authority pointed to the guarantees provided by the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen, David Gharsley, during his visit to Sanaa Airport at the end of last November and his meeting with the Minister of Transport not to target the airport and its facilities, but unfortunately these guarantees were not achieved through the continued targeting of the airport by the aggression.

For his part, the Deputy Resident Representative of the United Nations, Coordinator of Humanitarian Affairs in Yemen, Diego Zorrilla, said, “We came with experts from the United Nations to assess the situation at Sana’a International Airport and see the extent of the destruction in it.”

And he indicated that Sana’a International Airport possesses basic infrastructure not only to serve the United Nations but also for all Yemenis, and represents an artery for the entry of humanitarian aid to the people of Yemen.

“We will continue to work with all concerned parties to continue the work of Sana’a International Airport as required,” he said.

Zorella stressed that the Yemeni people need peace, especially after seven years of suffering and war.. Pointing out that the United Nations coordinator in Yemen will work to achieve peace.

He added, “The United Nations has always called for the opening of Sana’a International Airport for all civil and commercial flights, the port of Hodeidah and the rest of the ports.

For his part, the Executive Director of the Yemeni Oil Company, Ammar Al-Adra’i, confirmed that the company’s aviation finance department is ready at Sana’a International Airport.

He said, “The Department of Aircraft Financing with Fuel at Sana’a Airport, after rehabilitating it, was working at 90 percent readiness, but after targeting it yesterday evening, it was completely out of readiness.”

Al-Adhra’i explained that the dispensations of the Department of Aircraft Financing with Fuel were financing the aircraft of the United Nations and humanitarian and relief organizations with fuel that arrive at Sana’a airport, and their stay at the airport was for the service of the United Nations, and yesterday those bouquets were completely destroyed.

He pointed out that the aggression coalition’s aircraft destroyed the central laboratory for testing aviation fuel, which led to it being out of readiness.

The conference was attended by the directors of Sana’a International Airport, Khaled Al-Shayef, the Institute of Civil Aviation and Meteorology, Dr. Naji Al-Sahmi, and Air Transport, Dr. Mazen Ghanem