News Content

Aden harbour and airport re-open after air attack on refugees kills 40

YEMEN's war-torn port of Aden says its ready to take cargo after a helicopter attack on a boat load of refugees killed more than 40 people 217 nautical miles north on the Red Sea coast.

The Yemen Gulf of Aden Port Authority has advised that the port is now ready to receive containers and other cargo traffic, reported GAC Hot Port News.

Aden International Airport has also been declared open for business after Houthi forces, which hold the capital, Sana'a, were driven from the port city.

While Sana'a is the capital, the seat of the internationally recognised government is now Aden, which is now led by the ousted President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, according to Wikipedia.

A Saudi plane carrying aid reportedly became the first plane to land in Aden in four months. The same day, a ship chartered by the World Food Programme carrying fuel docked in Aden port.

The Saudi backs the government in exile, whose forces now hold Aden and much of the coast. Houthi forces are backed by Iran, while Saudi forces have committed armour and air power to battle.

Said the Aden port press release: "In 2015-2016 Aden Container Terminal has contributed to the reception of all containers that could not reach other Yemeni ports because of the conflict.

"The terminal has increased its storage space to receive more containers and it has the full ability to cover the Yemen's traffic effectively. As a result of the stabilisation of security in Aden and the abolition of all the checkpoints that had been developed after the war to cover all the liberated areas, the terminal was able to handle about 270,000 TEU in 2016.

"Aden Container Terminal has agreed with the World Food Programme to provide special warehouses to store relief items and has the ability to make such arrangements with other relief organisations as required.Other cargoes that are transported by general cargo and bulk ships such as steel, wood, cement, wheat, including relief materials, are handled in Ma'alla Wharf, which can handle all types of goods. Aden Gulf Marine Terminal, a specialised bulk grain and edible oil terminal, is the largest and deepest terminal that can accommodate the largest ships calling at any terminal in Yemen.

"The existing oil handling facilities in the Port of Aden give it a special advantage in handling petroleum products and crude oil through the Oil Harbour and the Aden International Marine Terminal.

"The availability of infrastructure in Aden and its neighbouring governorates, whether warehouses and storage yards or other large facilities, supported by a network of good roads, will facilitate the seamless flow of goods to all parts of the Republic.

"The issue of land transport capacity to meet the requirements of the next stage should not be a constraint, since the Governor's office and the competent authorities are working to ensure the availability of these services at a satisfactory level for all importers from all over Yemen Republic," said the press statement.