Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Friday that the Biden administration would formally remove Yemen's Houthi rebels from the US list of terror organisations on Tuesday.
“This decision is a recognition of the dire humanitarian situation in Yemen,” Mr Blinken said in a statement. “We have listened to warnings from the United Nations, humanitarian groups and bipartisan members of Congress, among others, that the designation could have a devastating impact on Yemen’s access to basic commodities like food and fuel.
“The revocations are intended to ensure that relevant US policies do not impede assistance to those already suffering what has been called the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. By focusing on alleviating the humanitarian situation in Yemen, we hope the Yemeni parties can also focus on engaging in dialogue.”
The Biden administration first notified Congress that it would lift the terrorist designation on the Houthis last week. Former secretary of state Mike Pompeo designated the Houthis as a terrorist group in January shortly before leaving office. The move came after the Trump administration cut aid to Houthi-held territory in Yemen last year.
“The reversal of the designation, the naming of the special envoy [Tim Lenderking] and the clear language from the top of the US administration, from President Biden himself, expressing strong support for the UN-led mediation process and political peace process…are very welcome,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters on Friday.
Mr Blinken’s announcement came after the World Health Organisation stated on Friday that 400,000 Yemeni children under the age of five are at risk of dying this year from severe acute malnutrition. About 2 million other Yemeni children under the age of five are also projected to be at risk of acute malnutrition.
“It is for the children and civilians of Yemen that all Yemeni leaders and those outside of Yemen should all move in the same direction, which is a political agreement to lead to a nationwide ceasefire,” said Mr Dujarric.
Still, the Biden administration has yet to reverse former president Donald Trump's aid cuts to Yemen. And the worsening humanitarian crisis has prompted advocacy organisations to push the Biden administration and Congress to fully restore aid to Houthi-held areas of the war-torn country, where approximately 80 per cent of the Yemeni population lives.
"With the UN recording rising Covid cases in Yemeni comminutes and reporting that over 2 million children may endure acute malnutrition in 2021, this continued aid suspension is worsening the hunger crisis and exacerbating the virus's toll on a country where millions are already immunocompromised from years of war and near starvation," Hassan El-Tayyab, the legislative manager for Middle East policy at the Friends Committee on National Legislation told The National. "President Biden's next policy change to Yemen should be to immediately restore humanitarian aid to all parts of Yemen."
Amid the humanitarian crisis, the Houthis resumed an offensive on the Yemeni city of Marib. The fighting has resulted in dozens of deaths on both sides as the Iran-backed Houthis clash with Yemen’s internationally recognised government, which is supported by Saudi air strikes.
“We hope that [shift in US policy] helps build momentum for a political solution to the conflict in Yemen,” said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.
“I think the reversal of the designation, the naming of the (US) special envoy (for Yemen), and the clear, clear language from the top of the administration, from President Biden himself, expressing his strong support for the UN-led mediation process … are very, very welcome indeed.”
President Joe Biden announced last week that the US would end support for the Saudi-led coalition's offensive military operations in Yemen.
Still, State Department spokesman Ned Price called on the Houthis to halt their Marib offensive this week.
Despite removing the Houthi terrorist designation, three of the group’s leaders still remain subject to US sanctions: Abdul Malik Al Houthi, Abd Al Khaliq Badr Al Din Al Houthi and Abdullah Yahya Al Hakim.
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
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Dhadak 2
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Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
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EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
- Max Dowman (Arsenal)
15 years, 235 days old
- Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
15 years, 271 days old
- Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
16 years, 30 days old
- Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
16 years, 68 days old
Du Football Champions
The fourth season of du Football Champions was launched at Gitex on Wednesday alongside the Middle East’s first sports-tech scouting platform.“du Talents”, which enables aspiring footballers to upload their profiles and highlights reels and communicate directly with coaches, is designed to extend the reach of the programme, which has already attracted more than 21,500 players in its first three years.
The Saudi Cup race card
1 The Jockey Club Local Handicap (TB) 1,800m (Dirt) $500,000
2 The Riyadh Dirt Sprint (TB) 1,200m (D) $1.500,000
3 The 1351 Turf Sprint 1,351m (Turf) $1,000,000
4 The Saudi Derby (TB) 1600m (D) $800,000
5 The Neom Turf Cup (TB) 2,100m (T) $1,000,000
6 The Obaiya Arabian Classic (PB) 2,000m (D) $1,900,000
7 The Red Sea Turf Handicap (TB) 3,000m (T) $2,500,000
8 The Saudi Cup (TB) 1,800m (D) $20,000,000
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In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
