YEMEN Press Agency

Ministry of telecommunications: over 2,409 Saudi airstrikes were waged on communication facilities during 6 Years

SANAA, March 25 (YPA) – Ministry of telecommunications and Information Technology on Wednesday released a report for the losses of the telecommunications and postal sector during the six years of the US-Saudi aggression and blockade.

During a press conference in the capital, Sana’a, the Ministry explained that the communications sector had suffered material and human losses and had been severely affected by bombing of facilities, towers, centrals, communications and postal offices with more than 2, 409 air strikes.

“The aggression bombed 1,041 facilities, communications sites and post offices, resulting in a total destruction of 32% of the infrastructure and the partial destruction of 23%,” the ministry  added.

The Ministry pointed out that the aggression caused the closure of 774 service facilities in the provinces, in addition to killing of 60 employees in the sector.

It noted that the blockade resulted in the detention of 104 communications stations, nearly 7 million mobile phone cards and 16 containers for communications and messaging equipment, and stopped them in airports and ports under the control of the aggression.

The Ministry indicated that the initial material losses incurred by the telecommunications and postal sector amounted to more than one billion and four hundred dollars, equivalent to more than 3 trillion Yemeni riyals.

It also explained that the aggression caused the failure to restore service to more than 87 Yemeni villages and cities that were cut off from the world and deprived more than a million citizens of services.

The ministry indicated that the aggression led to the banning of the use of submarine internet cables owned by Yemeni telecommunications and depriving Yemen of their use.

It pointed out that the aggression still prevents the use and operation of the Aden-Djibouti submarine cable and the cable (AAE_1) and its landing station in Aden, it also prevents the installation and operation of the cable (SMW5) and its unloading station in Hodeidah.

The Ministry held the countries of the aggression responsible for all the crimes committed against the sector and the catastrophic consequences thereof.

It called on the international community and the UN to carry out their duties to ensure the survival of the lowest levels of human rights for civilians in Yemen.

E.M