Yemen Govt Welcomes Acceleration of Saudi-Emirati Support

Yemenis visit a market for shopping ahead of the holiday of Eid al-Adha, in Sanaa, Yemen, 05 July 2022. (EPA)
Yemenis visit a market for shopping ahead of the holiday of Eid al-Adha, in Sanaa, Yemen, 05 July 2022. (EPA)
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Yemen Govt Welcomes Acceleration of Saudi-Emirati Support

Yemenis visit a market for shopping ahead of the holiday of Eid al-Adha, in Sanaa, Yemen, 05 July 2022. (EPA)
Yemenis visit a market for shopping ahead of the holiday of Eid al-Adha, in Sanaa, Yemen, 05 July 2022. (EPA)

The legitimate Yemeni government welcomed on Wednesday the acceleration of aid from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The decision to speed up the delivery of the aid was announced last week during a meeting in Riyadh between Saudi Deputy Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi.

The government, which met in Aden on Wednesday, welcomed the move, saying it reflects the major fraternal role played by Saudi Arabia and the UAE in supporting Yemen on all levels.

It hailed the efforts of Saudi agencies and organizations, led by the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) and King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), in building institutions, improving services and easing the suffering of the people throughout the war-torn country.

Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik chaired the cabinet meeting that reviewed preparations ahead of the Eid al-Adha holiday in terms of stabilizing prices of goods and ensuring that services, especially water and electricity, are provided.

The PM noted the measures taken by the government to ease the impact of the global economic crisis on the Yemeni people.

The government will continue to monitor the crisis and take the necessary emergency measures when necessary.

On the nationwide two-month truce, the government slammed the Iran-backed Houthi militias for stalling in its implementation and the United Nations and international community for their continued silence over the militias’ behavior.

It accused them of failing to firmly deal with the Houthi intransigence and their shirking of their commitments, including lifting the siege on the Taiz province.

The international silence only encourages the militias to defy international resolutions and to carry on with its malign practices, such as the planting of mines, recruitment of children and daily violations of the truce, it added.

The government and Presidential Leadership Council are keen on ensuring the success of the truce and the efforts led by the UN envoy with the backing of friendly countries so that a comprehensive, sustainable and fair peace can be reached.



Pilgrims in Saudi Arabia for Hajj Stream into Arafat

Muslim pilgrims pray at dawn on Saudi Arabia's Mount Arafat, also known as Jabal al-Rahma or Mount of Mercy, during the climax of the Hajj pilgrimage on June 5, 2025. (Photo by HAZEM BADER / AFP)
Muslim pilgrims pray at dawn on Saudi Arabia's Mount Arafat, also known as Jabal al-Rahma or Mount of Mercy, during the climax of the Hajj pilgrimage on June 5, 2025. (Photo by HAZEM BADER / AFP)
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Pilgrims in Saudi Arabia for Hajj Stream into Arafat

Muslim pilgrims pray at dawn on Saudi Arabia's Mount Arafat, also known as Jabal al-Rahma or Mount of Mercy, during the climax of the Hajj pilgrimage on June 5, 2025. (Photo by HAZEM BADER / AFP)
Muslim pilgrims pray at dawn on Saudi Arabia's Mount Arafat, also known as Jabal al-Rahma or Mount of Mercy, during the climax of the Hajj pilgrimage on June 5, 2025. (Photo by HAZEM BADER / AFP)

Around two million pilgrims are in Saudi Arabia for this year's Hajj, a government spokesperson said Wednesday.

Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, a religious obligation involving rituals and acts of worship that every Muslim must fulfil if they have the money and are physically able to do it.

Hajj Ministry spokesperson Ghassan Al-Nuwaimi provided an approximate number for foreigners at this year’s pilgrimage. He did not say how many domestic pilgrims were taking part. Last year, there were 1,611,310 pilgrims from outside the country.

On Wednesday, pilgrims streamed into Arafat, some making the journey on foot, carrying their luggage through temperatures nudging 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). Others carried the elderly.

People paused to sit on the ground to rest or eat before heading to their camps.

Mount Arafat, a rocky hill southeast of Makkah, holds immense significance in Islam. Arafat is mentioned in the Quran and it is where the Prophet Muhammad gave his last sermon on his final Hajj.

According to traditional sayings of the prophet, the Day of Arafat is the most sacred day of the year, when God draws near to the faithful and forgives their sins.

Pilgrims remain in Arafat, in prayer and reflection, from after midnight until after sunset. After sunset Thursday, pilgrims will go to the desert plain of Muzdalifah to collect pebbles, which they will use in a ritual.

Earlier in the week, Health Minister Fahad bin Abdulrahman Al-Jalajel told The Associated Press that 10,000 trees have been planted to provide more shade, there is increased hospital bed capacity, and the number of paramedics has tripled.