Yemen’s PLC Establishes ‘Crisis Cell,’ Stresses End to Banking Distortions

The Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council meets in Riyadh with Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik (Saba News Agency)
The Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council meets in Riyadh with Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik (Saba News Agency)
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Yemen’s PLC Establishes ‘Crisis Cell,’ Stresses End to Banking Distortions

The Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council meets in Riyadh with Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik (Saba News Agency)
The Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council meets in Riyadh with Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik (Saba News Agency)

Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) has ordered the formation of a “crisis cell” headed by Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik to follow up on economic developments. The PLC also stressed the need to end monetary distortions in the banking market.

Houthi militias, on the other hand, continue to reject proposals to renew and expand the truce.

Instead of agreeing to pay the salaries of civil servants, Houthi leaders are threatening to repeat attacks on oil export ports in government-run areas and restarting battles towards southern governorates.

According to Yemeni sources, PLC head Rashad al-Alimi held a meeting for the ruling council in Riyadh.

All members of the PLC contributed to the discussions. While Sultan al-Errada, Abdurrahman al-Mahrami, Abdullah al-Alimi, and Othman Mujalli were present in person, Aidarous Azaibaid, Tariq Saleh and Faraj al-Bahssani contributed to the meeting via video conference.

“The meeting discussed humanitarian and economic conditions. It also tackled policies required to face the current challenges, including government measures limiting the catastrophic repercussions of the Houthi terrorist attacks on oil facilities and global freedom of trade,” Saba News Agency reported.

“The prime minister provided a detailed report about the latest developments in the national arena and the government's ongoing efforts to handle the economic, services, military and security issues.”

Moreover, Abdulmalik briefed the PLC on policies aimed at maintaining economic, monetary, service and commodity stability, and maintaining the public budget deficit at safe levels, in a way that prevents any side effects on vulnerable social groups.

The PLC, for its part, stressed the importance of “ending monetary distortions in exchange rates, including stopping speculation, depleting reserves of hard currencies, and controlling the value of the national currency, which has achieved relative stability during the last period.”

Also, the PLC “affirmed its support for government policies and moving forward with the implementation of the National Defense Council’s decision to classify the Houthi militia as a terrorist organization.”

The PLC said it will take all measures necessary to dry up funding sources for Houthis, secure national facilities and deter any criminal threats to the interests of citizens.



Returnees to Lebanon's Baalbek Plan to Live in Tents Over Home Rubble

Residents check their destroyed neighborhood in Baalbek, eastern Lebanon, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Residents check their destroyed neighborhood in Baalbek, eastern Lebanon, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
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Returnees to Lebanon's Baalbek Plan to Live in Tents Over Home Rubble

Residents check their destroyed neighborhood in Baalbek, eastern Lebanon, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Residents check their destroyed neighborhood in Baalbek, eastern Lebanon, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Families from Lebanon’s Deir al-Ahmar and nearby villages celebrated the start of a ceasefire, which allowed them to return home. Packing their belongings quickly into cars, they left behind the hardship of displacement.

“The journey was exhausting... it’s time to leave this nightmare behind,” one returnee said.

Intense bombardment in Baalbek and surrounding areas had forced hundreds to flee their homes, seeking refuge in Christian and Sunni villages in northern Bekaa.

These host communities welcomed them, putting aside political differences. Now, the returning families express heartfelt gratitude for the hospitality they received.

Suleiman, one of the first returnees, said: “We didn’t want to burden our hosts any longer.”

He explained that families in shelters were starting to pack up for their journey home.

“We returned early, leaving some belongings behind in Shlifa. We’ll go back later to collect them and thank our hosts for their kindness,” he added.

The road to Deir al-Ahmar was packed early Wednesday with families heading home. Cars loaded with mattresses, children, and belongings filled the streets. For many, returning is the priority, even if their homes are damaged.

“I found my house destroyed,” said Mohamed, who had been sheltering in Yammouneh.

“I’ll set up a tent over the rubble and live there, even in the cold.”

Others shared the same plan, determined to stay close to their homes, even if it means pitching tents or staying with neighbors and relatives.

Deir al-Ahmar had hosted thousands of displaced people, offering homes and shelters free of charge. Around 12,000 stayed in local shelters, while nearby towns like Qaa, Ras Baalbek, and Arsal took in tens of thousands more.

Some families are also returning from Tripoli, where they fled during the escalation in late September. Mohamed Faitrouni, a driver from northern Bekaa, was thrilled to reunite with his family.

“My wife packed what she could the moment the ceasefire was announced,” he said.

“I’m grateful to the people of Qobbeh, who sheltered my family of eight. Nothing compares to the peace and safety of being home,” added Faitrouni.

Faitrouni is eager to reunite with his family, whom he hasn’t seen since October 4.

“My family is on its way back to Baalbek, and the real joy will be seeing my relatives and children again after more than a month,” he said.

He had to leave Baalbek when his neighbor’s house was destroyed. To keep his family safe from the cold, he rented a modest home in Qobbeh for $300 a month.

“I had to find a safe place to protect my family from the winter,” Faitrouni said.