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Exclusive - Yemen Minister: Arrival of 7,000 Hajj Pilgrims from Houthi Areas Refutes Claims of Politicization

Yemen’s Awqaf Minister refutes claims that the Hajj was being politicized. (SPA)
Yemen’s Awqaf Minister refutes claims that the Hajj was being politicized. (SPA)
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Exclusive - Yemen Minister: Arrival of 7,000 Hajj Pilgrims from Houthi Areas Refutes Claims of Politicization

Yemen’s Awqaf Minister refutes claims that the Hajj was being politicized. (SPA)
Yemen’s Awqaf Minister refutes claims that the Hajj was being politicized. (SPA)

Yemen’s Awqaf (religious affairs) minister, Dr. Ahmad Attiyah, said that around 24,000 Yemeni pilgrims arrived in Saudi Arabia to perform the annual Hajj rituals, including 7,000 pilgrims who came from areas controlled by the Iran-backed Houthis.

This is a “strong response to those who claim that the Saudi government was politicizing the holy Hajj,” he stressed.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, the minister noted that Saudi Arabia received about 80,000 pilgrims from Iran and opened its doors to Yemeni pilgrims, “although Yemen is at war and the Kingdom is a party to this war at the request of Yemeni legitimacy.”

This did not prevent the flow of pilgrims from all Yemeni cities, including those controlled by the militias, he remarked.

He stressed in this regard that the entry of Yemeni pilgrims into the Kingdom was made in a very short time – not more than eight days – through a single crossing linking Saudi Arabia and Yemen, Al-Wadiha crossing. He noted that 550 buses transported the pilgrims who were able to easily reach Makkah.

The minister expressed his surprise at claims by Houthi militias that the Kingdom was blocking the arrival of pilgrims from Yemen, saying: “The Houthis are accustomed to lying.”

He added: “We visit pilgrims in hotels in Makkah, and patients in hospitals… and we receive pilgrims at the entrances; but they disregard these facts that are clear to all.”

The militias, according to the minister, put many obstacles to prevent the Yemenis from performing Hajj, such as forcing transport companies and Hajj and Umrah agencies to pay fees.

He also revealed that the militias confiscated the passports of a number of citizens to prevent them from the performing the holy pilgrimage.

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FAO Official: Gulf States Shielded Themselves from Major Shocks

David Laborde, Director of the Agrifood Economics Division at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
David Laborde, Director of the Agrifood Economics Division at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
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FAO Official: Gulf States Shielded Themselves from Major Shocks

David Laborde, Director of the Agrifood Economics Division at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
David Laborde, Director of the Agrifood Economics Division at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

David Laborde, Director of the Agrifood Economics Division at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), told Asharq al-Awsat that global hunger increased sharply during the coronavirus pandemic, noting that the GCC countries were able to shield themselves from major shocks affecting food security.
Laborde added that global hunger affected over 152 million people, with no improvement in the past two years.
Today, 733 million people suffer from chronic hunger, and 2.3 billion face food insecurity, according to the UN annual report on “The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World.”

Laborde explained that the global economic crisis has worsened food insecurity, keeping hunger levels high.
Alongside this, climate shocks and conflicts are major causes of hunger. He also pointed out that food insecurity is closely tied to inequality, and the economic crisis, rising living costs, and high interest rates are deepening existing inequalities both within and between countries.
On whether economic diversification in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries is boosting food security, Laborde said: “A move towards a more diversified economy and enhancing the ability to rely on various sources of food supplies are key drivers of food security resilience and stability.”
“GCC countries have managed to shield themselves from major shocks, primarily due to their high income levels and ability to cover import costs without difficulty,” he explained.
Regarding the FAO’s outlook on reducing global hunger, Laborde insisted that ending hunger will require a significant increase in funding.
When asked for suggestions on how governments could enhance food security, Laborde said: “Despite global figures remaining stable, improvements are seen in Asia and Latin America, showing that the right policies and conditions can reduce numbers.”
“Hunger is not inevitable. Investing in social safety nets to protect the poor, along with making structural changes to food systems to be more environmentally friendly, resilient, and equitable, is the right path forward,” emphasized Laborde.
The annual State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report, published on Wednesday, said about 733 million people faced hunger in 2023 – one in 11 people globally and one in five in Africa.
Hunger and food insecurity present critical challenges affecting millions globally.
The annual report, released this year during the G20 Global Alliance for Hunger and Poverty Task Force ministerial meeting in Brazil, warns that the world is significantly lagging in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2—ending hunger by 2030.
It highlights that global progress has regressed by 15 years, with malnutrition levels comparable to those seen in 2008-2009.
Despite some progress in areas like stunting and exclusive breastfeeding, a troubling number of people still face food insecurity and malnutrition, with global hunger levels rising.