The conflict between the legitimate government of Yemen and the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in Aden has negatively affected services in the port city.
Residents had previously told Asharq Al-Awsat that power had been cut completely in the Lahj province. They warned that Aden could also be plunged in darkness as it was suffering power cuts of more than 12 hours.
They said that services at government administrations in the majority of Aden’s districts have come to halt. Several neighborhoods in the city are also suffering water shortages.
Local officials said the issue was out of their hands, explaining that the shortage was due to a lack of fuel to operate water stations. They demanded that the service sectors be kept away from the dispute between the government and STC.
A government official, meanwhile, denied allegations and accusations that the government had refused to provide oil derivatives to the power plants.
He stressed that the energy ministry, at the instruction of Prime Minister Moeen Abdulmalek, was and still is keen on keeping basic services away from political meddling.
The latest developments in the interim capital have created mistrust from oil derivatives providers, he revealed, blaming them for the shortage.
He also blamed the STC “rebellion” for the “major deterioration” in services.
For its part, the STC held the government responsible for the crisis.
A spokesman for the group, Nizar Haitham said the government was “deliberately shirking” its duties towards the people of the South.
He stated that all revenues from southern regions were being deposited in government accounts in the central bank in Aden. They are being spent in corrupt deals or on northern provinces, he alleged.
The STC, at the orders of its leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi, is working “tirelessly” to provide services to the people and negotiate with oil derivatives providers.
