A Breakthrough for Yemenis Stranded in Port Sudan for Almost Two Months
(AWP) - Nearly 200 Yemenis are finally returning home after almost two months of being stranded in Port Sudan since the Houthi group barred their flight from landing in Yemen in mid-January.
A Yemeni businessman donated a flight for them on Wednesday, so that they could return to the temporary capital, Aden, after more than 50 days of staying in difficult conditions in Port Sudan.
The stranded people, most of whom are women and children, including 16 infants, spent the entire period outside their country's consulate in Port Sudan, while some of them took refuge in mosques, schools, and shelter centres amid difficult humanitarian and economic conditions.
They expressed great happiness and relief at returning home and seeing an end to their ordeal, during which they had no choice but to sit in front of the Yemeni consulate in Port Sudan, demanding expedited repatriation like citizens of other countries in Sudan.
Ahmed Taher al-Sharabi, one of the stranded Yemenis, said, “For more than 50 days – nearly two months – we have been suffering in this country. We are sleeping on the ground underneath the open sky. Families and children are suffering. Some of them are on rooftops, in mosques and schools. More than 40 families were living in one apartment.”
The group have endured difficult circumstances in light of the depletion of their money and high food prices following the outbreak of the civil war between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the capital, Khartoum, in mid-April.
Yasser al-Ragmi, another stranded Yemeni, said, “We came on the flight that was turned back from Yemen, and are now moving again to the homeland with great joy among these Yemeni masses, who are happily going home, God willing.”
Abir Hassan, a stranded Yemeni woman, said, “Today I am at a loss for words because of the joy of the sisters, brothers and children. Today, a smile finally appeared on their faces, praise be to God! God willing, a safe return, and God willing, oh Lord, Sudan’s anguish will also be relieved.”
Yemeni Attaché for Expatriate Affairs and Advisor to the Yemeni Embassy in Sudan, Abdulhaq Yaqoub, thanked everyone who played a part in facilitating the return of his fellow citizens.
He said, “We also truly extend our gratitude to those stranded individuals who have been patient and tired. They have been in constant suffering and hardship since their flight was turned away from Yemeni airspace on January 18 to Port Sudan airport. Praise be to God, today they rejoiced greatly in anticipation of returning to their homeland tonight and to Aden airport. May they arrive safely.”
Hundreds of Yemenis are still stranded in various cities across Sudan since the outbreak of the civil war.