Hodeidah Governor and German Ambassador visit Hodeidah port
The Governor of Hodeida, Mohammed Ayyash Qahim, and the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Yemen, Hubert Jeeger, and his accompanying delegation inspected, Thursday, 07/28-2022 AD, the progress of work in the port of Hodeida.
Qahim and jeeger, along with the Director of Aid at the German Foreign Ministry, Fris Gayer Susan, the Resident Representative of the World Food Program in Yemen Richard Rajan, the Regional Director of the World Food Program Corinne Fleischer, and the Deputy Director of the World Food Program Office in Berlin Sigrid Müller, were briefed on the mechanism for receiving relief aid at the container terminal and berths, In the port by the World Food Program.
They were also briefed on the extent of the destruction inflicted on the bridge cranes for handling containers by the aggression aircraft, and they heard from the head of the Yemeni Red Sea Ports Corporation, Captain Mohammed Abu Bakr Ishaq, a detailed explanation about the work and activity of the port and the procedures and treatments taken by the Corporation to restart it as a result of the siege, direct targeting and the destruction that befell it. With its infrastructure and superstructure as a result of the aggression, reviewing the level of cooperation between the Foundation and the World Food Program and the most prominent needs that are required to be provided to the port to carry out its humanitarian and relief duty, which is to provide cranes and bridge cranes for handling containers, and maintenance of equipment, devices and basic requirements of technical maintenance and operation equipment.
He explained the importance and role of the port geographically and demographically, whether for donors or for the Yemeni people, as a lifeline for them in providing basic needs and materials for about 70 percent of the Yemeni people.
He pointed out that the institution carries out its activities with specialized “civilian” cadres from its sons, and is in compliance with the International System for Port Security (ISPC-Cod).
Captain Ishaq stressed that targeting the port of Hodeida is in contravention of all international laws and covenants and contradicts what is stated in Articles (55) and (56) of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which stipulates the need to provide the population with food and medical supplies during the war.
Pointing out that the direct targeting of the port on August 17, 2015, led to the container terminal being out of service and a loss of 60 percent of the port’s operational capacity.
He noted the Foundation’s keenness to provide all facilities to the program and to contribute to the implementation of its humanitarian and relief activities.
He pointed out that despite the UN truce, the port of Hodeida is still besieged and there are continuous obstacles to the entry of ships carrying relief aid, oil derivatives and domestic gas, and the entry of container ships, despite the ships obtaining the necessary permits from the United Nations.
the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany thanked the warm reception and welcome .. He pointed out that his visit and the accompanying delegation to the Hodeida governorate come to closely examine the damage caused to the civil service facilities, including the port of Hodeida as a result of the aggression and the relief aid provided by the World Food Program and its distribution mechanism and the extent to which the targeted beneficiaries benefit from it .
He praised the efforts made by the Corporation’s leadership in restarting the port of Hodeida, despite the scarcity of capabilities, obstacles and the siege imposed on it.
They were accompanied during the visit by the director of the branch of the Supreme Council for the Management and Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and International Cooperation, Jaber Hussein Al-Razhi, the Vice President of the Red Sea Ports Corporation, Zaid Ahmed Al-Washli, and a number of directors-general of the corporation.
