Popular protest held in Lahj calling for improving collapsed basic services

LAHJ, Feb. 02 (YPA) – An angry popular protest was held on Monday in the city of Ras al-Ara in the province of Lahj, south of Yemen, as demonstrators poured through the main streets to the seaport to demand the restoration of their looted rights.

In the rally, the protesters raised slogans condemning the organized deprivation suffered by the sons of Mudaraba and Ras al-Ara, despite the huge revenues generated by the port, which are spent in the interests of corrupt local and military leaders loyal to Saudi Arabia, which has controlled the district for years.

The demonstrators stressed the need to direct part of the port’s revenues to revive the deteriorating basic services, prioritizing roads, electricity, education and health, pointing out that there are enormous financial returns without any development investment in the region.

The protesters directly accused what they called “corrupt and influential entities” within the local and military leadership loyal to the Saudi-led coalition, and followers of Salafi leader Hamdi Shoukry al-Subaihi, a leader of the Saudi-backed Al-Amaiqa factions.

They also accused local and military leaders of seizing customs and duty revenues to transfer them to personal accounts, while poor families and the fishing community suffer from a lack of basic necessities of life.

The rally demanded the establishment of an independent charitable fund for the people of the region, allocating a fixed percentage of the port’s revenues to support needy groups, and stopping discrimination in the distribution of resources, as well as supporting for urgent service and development projects.

It warned of an open escalation in the coming weeks if their demands were not met, including the immobilization of the port until social justice was achieved.

AA