UAE committed to supporting Yemeni people, says Al Jaber

Jeddah - Al Jaber made these remarks while leading a UAE delegation to a meeting held at the Jeddah Conference Palace in Saudi Arabia.

Dr Sultan bin Ahmed Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State and Chairman of the National Media Council, has emphasised that the UAE continues to support the Yemeni people by carrying out a huge humanitarian operation to provide aid to the liberated areas.
He said being part of the Saudi-led Arab Coalition, the UAE is committed to supporting people of Yemen and alleviating their suffering.
Al Jaber made these remarks while leading a UAE delegation to a meeting held at the Jeddah Conference Palace in Saudi Arabia for ministers responsible for media affairs in the member states of the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen.
Al Jaber referred to the continuation of the military and humanitarian operation in Hodeida to ensure delivery of humanitarian aid to the Yemeni people and to alleviate their suffering.
He also stressed the need to stop Iranian interference in Yemen by preventing the smuggling of weapons through Hodeida Port and called for securing international waterways by stopping the threat posed by Houthi militias to free movement of ships in the Red Sea.
He said the UAE, as part of its role in the Arab Coalition, has prepared a comprehensive humanitarian aid plan to alleviate the suffering of the people of Hodeida and other liberated areas.
He pointed out that Houthi militias have deliberately created a humanitarian disaster by interfering in the unloading of aid at the port, diverting or stealing food supplies, laying mines and positioning weapons among civilians, as well as destroying water and sanitation networks. This had been confirmed by the UN, international relief organisations and the media, he pointed out.
Dr Al Jaber urged the international community to force the Houthis to abide by international humanitarian laws, provide secure access routes for relief aid and refrain from damaging the infrastructure of Hodeida Port. The port should also remain open to international aid organisations.
He noted that the Yemeni crisis will end only through a political process which is consistent with the three principles emerged from the Yemeni national dialogue and the Gulf initiative, as well as UN Security Council resolution 2216, in a process involving Yemenis themselves, under the patronage and supervision of the UN.
He said the liberation of the city and port of Hodeida represented a turning point in the Yemeni crisis since the restoration of government's control over the port will enhance the chances of reaching a peaceful solution and breaking the deadlock in the political process.
Al Jaber noted the pivotal role played by the UAE as part of the Arab Coalition in the fight against militant organisations, which have been dealt severe blows in many areas in Yemen.
Highlighting the role of media in countering extremism and terrorism, Dr Al Jaber said that efforts by the media would ultimately lead to the eradication of the roots of extremist thought and the drying up of sources of funding. These "takfiri" groups are distorting and exploiting Islam to penetrate into society to try to attract and recruit young people, he said.
He called on the media to play a greater role in informing young people and communities in terms of immunising them against distorted ideas which do not represent the teachings of Islam.

• MENA