National Yemen Issue 25

Independent journalism, objective insight

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The Facts As They Are

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Women Police: Between Duty and Tradition

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Al-Maja’la After One Year

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Yemen in 2010 : A Look Back

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SUNDAY , Dec 26, 2010 I ISSUE 25 PRICE : YER 30 WWW . NAT IONALYEMEN

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Al-Iryani Criticizes Media Exaggerations

Southern Leader: I’ll Stay in My House National Yemen Staff

Approached for an interview with Saudi newspaper al-Sharq al-Awsat, Southern separatist leader Tariq al-Fadhli declared, “I’ll stay in my house and won’t leave until the Southern issue is solved, or I die.”

He went on to discuss his personal history, the dynamics of his movement’s leadership, and the possibility of conflict with the central government.

Al-Fadhli, who has been under virtual house arrest in Zinjibar since 2009, described convening a meeting at his residence in the same year inaugurating the so-called “Supreme Council for the Peaceful Liberation of the South.”

Commenting on recent tensions, and the release of major Southern leader Hassan Ba’um, al-Fadhli noted, “after that, there were those who said that we should postpone everything until he was released, but I say we are all vulnerable to detention and exile, and the work of the committees must

continue despite what has happened and continues to happen.”

Asked about a recent meeting of exiled Southern Leaders in Germany, which ended in apparent disarray, al-Fadhli acknowledged major rifts in the Movement’s leadership.

“The approach of President Ali Salem is one of ‘disengagement’ and ‘independence,’ under the premise that the South is occupied. Another approach, represented by Ali Nasser Muhammad and Haider al-Attas, proposes ‘change,’ and accepting federalism as a compromise.”

Asked whether the possibility of battles between the North and South, or a full scale civil war, frightened him, al-Fadhli admitted that such a conflict would be devastating, and should be avoided.

“Our experience with war in Continued on Page (3)

Turkish President to Visit Yemen Economic Ties Focus of Early January Visit National Yemen Staff The President of Turkey Abdullah Gul is slated to pay an official visit in early January to Yemen. Commerce between the two countries is expected to take center stage in the discussions, as the volume of Turkish trade in Yemen amounts to YR 7 billion.

The National Yemen has learned that the Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh and His Excellency President Gul will discuss several regional and international issues. Also, the economic file and the economic and trade enhancement partnership will top the list of talks.

The Turkish Ambassador in Sana'a Mohammed Dunmaz expressed his hopes that the talks taking place during this visit between the leaderships of the two countries will “yield good results for the two brotherly peoples.”

He noted that the economic relations between the two

Qaifah and Rada'a Citizens Penetrated the Province Security Building in Mahan in a Move to Express their Demands to the Government

Army Campaign Looms in Southern Town Sheikhs of Radfan Appeal to President to Cease Plan

By Abdul Malik al-Assar NY Exclusive The Yemeni military managed to gain control over Malah district, ejecting armed militants from the area after dozens of protesting residents of Radfan town occupied the streets of nearby al-Habilayn last Wednesday. The demonstrations, were in anger over the killing Abbas Tambah last week, after which the several soldiers were killed and others injured inside the market of al-Habilayn, the capital of the directorate. At the time, a number of local security and military delegations arrived at the administrative building in Malah district for a meeting to discuss the local tensions and security problems. No more

details on the results of the talks were immediately forthcoming.

Tambah was killed in a clash Thursday the week before last in al-Habilayn, and an officer and four soldiers were killed, and other soldiers and civilians injured in ensuing battles with gunmen. At that protest, protestors held the photo of Abbas Tambah and Secessionist flags, along with photos of Ali Salem al-Beidh, while chanting slogans against the authorities.

A number of military units and central security and emergency personnel were seen to be mobilized in Radfan city, according to witnesses, and in the mountains surrounding the capital of the governorate Lahj.

In the meantime, a spread of armed activists of the Southern Movement were seen on the streets of al-Habilayn and the surrounding mountains and they allegedly set up their own checkpoints at the entrances to the city, anticipating attacks from the Yemeni military.

Tensions are ongoing between the military and armed Southerners, and no news has been forthcoming on mediations to solve the situation since last Thursday.

At the same time, Sheikhs from Radfan sent a letter last Saturday to the President Ali Abdullah Saleh to intervene to solve the matter by forming an independent committee to

gather with all the political leaders, local authorities, sheikhs, and interested parties to address Radfan’s problems.

The latest ongoing problems are well-known to each one.

The statement claimed that some parties are benefiting from the on-going problems, and are encouraging the incidents and tensions in the district, for the sake of personal gains and political power-plays.

For that reason they affirmed their rejection of a military solution, and came out against this decision, which, according to the statement, “will lead not only the area into disaster, but also the whole country.”

Yemen soldier killed in bike-borne attack countries are constantly developing, and said that efforts are being made to increase the volume of trade cooperation and exchange to one billion dollars in the future.

He said that during this visit a number of agreements will be singed in the areas of support for Yemen's development and investment, particularly in the field of food processing, and the YemenTurkey Business Council will be set up, which will give a strong boost to trade exchange and investment.

In addition, an agreement between Sana'a University and Continued on Page (3)

ADEN, Yemen — A soldier who hired a motor-bike taxi in southern Yemen was shot dead by the driver in what is believed to be another ambush by Al-Qaeda militants in the restive region, an official said Saturday.

The killing took place in Zinjibar, capital of Abyan province, on Friday, the security official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The soldier, he added, had hired the taxi to take him to his home in a suburb, where the driver shot him dead.

In the past six months, 28 suicide attacks by bike-borne

militants have killed 15 officials in Abyan alone, the southern province that has become an Al-Qaeda bastion.

Security officials say the Islamists have carried out similar attacks in other provinces.

With motorbike hit-and-run shootings also on the rise, the authorities in October ordered some 2,000 two-wheelers off the streets of Abyan and enforced restrictions on their use in other areas.

Soldiers have been banned from using motor-bike taxis but many continue to use them when off duty as they are the cheapest form of transport.

The United States, meanwhile, on Friday called on Yemen to step up its fight against Al-Qaeda, one year after a botched attempt to blow up a US passenger plane by a Nigerian with Yemeni links.

Counter-terrorism advisor John Brennan called Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh "to emphasize the importance of taking forceful action against Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) in order to thwart its plans to carry out terrorist attacks in Yemen as well as in other countries, including in the US Homeland," the White House said in a statement.

AQAP has been accused of

being behind the attempted Christmas Day attack last year by a young Nigerian who had reportedly studied in Yemen.

It has taken credit for a foiled air cargo bomb plot in October, in which printer toner cartridges that had been rigged as bombs were shipped out of Sanaa and, according to investigators, set to explode over the United States.

One of the leaders of the group -- US-Yemeni citizen Anwar al-Awlaqi, believed at large in Yemen's vast and lawless tribal areas -- is now viewed by Washington as a threat on par with Al-Qaeda head Osama bin Laden.

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Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010 Issue 25 www.nationalyemen.com

CONGRATULATIONS

National Yemen

National Yemen

The Results in Review

Mathematics, sociology and economics mostly end with the language of politics; just like closing the budget. In the year 2010, Yemen consumed all options to end the year successfully and has only relegated the concept of success to an abstract theory. It does not seem like a good year, or even a satisfactory year, when the politician player received no passing marks in their attempts to fulfill their demands against the government and the ruling party.

Since the start of the year 2010, Yemen has mixed up all the papers on controlling problems such as the tribal structure, the southern movement, al-Qeada threats and the Houthis. In some points, Yemen has even been accused by creating these problems to draw the attention of international community to shore up its support.

The opposition has failed in marketing the failures of the government to public.

While at the same time the Yemeni Government has easily sold Yemen's social problems of poverty, lack of education and security issues to international donors so it can fight these problems.

The economy has indicated no progress in spite of the major confer-

LOCAL !

By Shokri Husein, Abyan

ences to promote the investment opportunities like the third conference of oil, gas and minerals, the coffee conference, the tourism conference and numerous other conferences with the objective of supporting democracy, human rights and education .

International donors are reviewing their budgets with caution as they decide whether to initiate or withdraw their projects. The Qatari Dier has decided to continue with its investment while the Emirates company (al-Qadra real estate) has withdrawn its project from Yemen. The Dubai Port world has achieved same like previous investors in operating Aden port.

The thing that Yemen can to learn from the 2010 is to work harder in the new year in order to indicate good will towards improvement.

If the parliament succeeds, why should the opposition be afraid of that? Why should anyone be afraid from positive changes in the government?

The only victim of this fear is the Yemeni people who will keep waiting for the modifications of the other’s mistake.

Year after year the progress stays the same. Only a few changes for some and the list of beneficiaries stays the same. Sustainable infrastructure projects waver between success or failure. More honest and serious intentions will make other copy the good work; as Yemenis like to imitate the success of others . Could the government please copy the good for the sake of the poor citizen who is looking for a better tomorrow before he dies?

incorrect way,” said Boujairi.

“The temples will fall down on the proud heads if this continues, and the ship will sink along with all aboard.

Violence, terrorism, and the killing of soldiers are rejected by the Islah party and its leaders,” he continued.

“We refuse any killing civilians under the excuse of fighting terrorism, like what happened in al-Maj’ala and elsewhere in Yemen, and we blame the JPC and government for that.”

Al-Boujairi’s comments referred to American air strikes, which killed dozens of

that the tribe is capable of protecting its members, and that authorities have abandoned their responsibilities, and failed to provide security and facilities, adding that Colonel Mitrees had no security guards, nor a security convoy, but traveled in his own car.

Fakhri Hassan Al-Arashi Publisher & Chief Editor

Will Carter Managing Editor

of donors in Brussels in November comes within the commitment to providing loans and donations amounting to $ billion to Yemen during the next five years, it added.

During 1974-2009, the fund provided KWD 639.7 million for financing 89 projects in various sectors in Yemen.

ANA'A, Dec. – The Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development AFESD has recently committed to providing $500 million in aid for development projects in Yemen.

The sum will be released during 2011-2015, it said on its website.

The allocation announced during the meeting

Yemen launches comprehensive anti-schistosomiasis campaign SANA'A, - Regional Deputy Director of the World Health Organization Abdullah al Saadi arrived for a few -day official visit to Yemen on Friday.

The visit comes at the invitation of the Ministry of Public Health and Population to participate in the launch of the comprehensive national campaign against schistosomiasis.

The campaign begins today in Sana'a, Rima, Mahweet, Dhale and Saada and it will be organized by the Ministry in

cooperation with WHO. The campaign will target the people aged 6 years and over on December 25-28.

Director of the national programme to combat bilharzias Abdullah Ushaish said the programme will target 7 million people over the next six years of those infected or vulnerable to the disease.

He also said that previous statistics estimated the number of the people with the disease at 3 million.

Ministry to set up four counterterrorism branches SANA'A,– The Interior Ministry said on Friday it has plans to set up four branches of the counterterrorism unit in Marib, Shabwa, Hadramout and Abyan provinces.

The largest branch will be in Hadramout, in eastern Yemen, it posted on its website.

The staffs of the four branches will be trained well and prepared at the same level as the main counterterrorism unit of the Central Security System, it added.

The move aims tighten the

the South is clear. In the events of January 1986 there were two parties to an internal conflict: Abyan and Shabwa on one side, and al-Dalea and Lahj on the other. People would profile each other by asking for identity cards, or if they did not have them, based on their accents.

Now this was just among Southerners – what if it were between the North and South?”

Repeating a sentiment common among Southern activists, al-Fadhli regarded with skepticism a recent campaign of assassinations against security and intelligence personnel in the Southern goverMohammed Al-Asaadi Editorial Consultant

norate of Abyan. He considered official implication of al-Qaeda as suspicious, and viewed the killings as a result of political maneuverings within the government, and against the Southern Movement.

Asked about the near-term prospects of the country and of his secessionist movement, al-Fadhli responded, “there are many reasons – not just security reasons – to believe that the next four months will be difficult, on Yemen’s political parties, on the Southern Movement, on the state, and those outside it.

We expect an increase of unfortunate events.”

Fuad Al-Qadhi Business Editor

noose around terrorists to root them out, it said, pointing out that Yemen has never been, and never will be a safe haven for terrorism.

Yemen will continue to hunt militants and surround them wherever they exist on its soil, it said.

Continued From Page (1) the University of Ataturk in the field of university education will be signed, among other agreements between the two countries.

The Yemen-Turkey relations have recently witnessed a major development, and statistics indicate that the trade volume rose significantly during the past three years.

During 2007 the trade exchange volume has arrived at 36 billion 280 million riyals, and imports have won the largest share, while the Yemeni exports to Turkey have not exceeded 120 million riyals.

Last year, the volume of

exports has seen a significant rise where trade exchange volume last year increased to 72 billion riyals and Yemeni exports have increased in size to more than 800 million riyals, according to the latest statistics of the General Investment Authority.

The Turkish investments until mid-December of this year have reached nearly 7 billion riyals distributed among the capital secretariat Sana’a and Marib in 15 projects in the area of tourist land transport, the Turkish Educational School, factories producing concrete and cutting marble, as well as other projects.

Shukri Hussein Jihan Anwar Amel Al-Ariqi Aden - Abyan Correspondent Staff Journalist Social Editor

The Facts As They Are

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civilians and several alleged al-Qaeda members, on the town of al-Maj’ala in Abyan in December of last year.

Boujairi concluded confidently that his party had offered an easy and comprehensive solution to the Yemen’s on-going problems, and accused the ruling party of the violence which had afflicted much of the country.

“Islah will continue its operations peacefully, and the government should admit the problems in the South and work toward solving them.”

AFESD commits $500 m in aid to Yemen in next five years

Continued From Page (1)

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Party in Abyan, said that the conference is occurring while Yemen is passing through a critical time in which the ruling party is pursuing a one-sided and mistaken strategy.

Opposition parties, including Islah, had recently performed demonstration and a parliamentary sit-in protesting the ruling party’s designation of procedures for upcoming elections, despite an opposition boycott “We just wish that the ruling party would think a little bit about leading the country toward peace and prosperity, instead of the thinking in this

nder a banner reading, “peaceful struggle is our way for national dialogue to help Yemen solve its crises,” the Abyan branch of the Islah party held its fifth conference, in the presence of Islah members and the deputy governor of Abyan, Ahmed Jarfoush.

A number of speeches were given from the most prominent leaders of the various parties in attendance, which focused in the importance of sharing ideas on finding the right solutions to see Yemen out of its current political crises.

Nasser al-Boujairi, the executive chairman of the Islah

National Yemen Exclusive

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Islah in Abyan: the Ruling Party Will Lead the Country to Disaster

A-Maraqisha Tribe in Abyan Vows to Protect Members The al-Maraqisha tribes in Abyan governorate demanded that the authorities apprehend the attackers who attempted to assassinate Colonel Ahmed Ali Mitrees, deputy director of political security in Abyan and a member of al-Maraqisha tribe, who survived an improvised explosive device placed in front of his car last weekend.

The statement of the al-Maraqisha, one of the largest tribes in Abyan, also demanded authorities bear responsibility for the frequent attacks to which security officers are exposed. It stated

Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010 Issue 25 www.nationalyemen.com

Mohammed Abdul ghani Shabwah Correspondent e-mail: info@nationalyemen.com website:www.nationalyemen.com address:al-qiada st.

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Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010 Issue 25 www.nationalyemen.com

National Yemen

COMMUNITY

Women Police: Between Duty and Tradition Yemeni Policewoman, Ta’iz The establishment of women police in our country came as an urgent necessity for the public benefit, and to enhance the status of Yemeni women and their role in society as an essential partner in development.

The ministry of interior introduced a school of police training for women, in accordance with a ministerial law issued by the interior ministry.

The first batch of 500 soldiers

was accepted in the year 2000, all of whom are preparatory and secondary school graduates, and the cadets were stationed to many different units.

A second batch of 400 soldiers graduated in 2004, all of whom are high school and college graduates from different governorates, and it was the first time women from different ranks were part of the training staff.

Abdulrahman Zafoor

By : Naiem Khaled The graduating class of 2010 had 500 girls from different governorates, subjected to basic training and the use of arms as well. Forty of the graduates moved on to further training at the military academy.

The objectives of the ministry are to build and prepare the police forces in all aspects of organizing, training, equipping and supplying women’s police with what they need in terms of human and material resources.

The objectives also aim to preserve and protect the law, secure public morals, souls, money, and freedoms.

Above all, the ministry’s objectives aim to reduce crime and to security for the citizens.

Also, the initiation of female officers means cooperating and coordinating with the government staff in accordance with the constitution and the law, which applies to the male and female police with no exception.

Overall, we can say the number of women police in the ministry of interior is about 2,685 officers, occupying different positions from deputy all the way to general director of departments and sections, and they have received different academic degrees from inside and outside the country.

All sorts of military ranks are represented: there are 16 colonels, 17 lieutenant colonels, 28 majors, 3 captains, and 2 first sergeants, all of whom have received extensive practical training.

718 female officers have been placed in the field during the past three years, which was 60% more than what was planned, and they were distributed to many different police units among the governorates.

Abdulrahman Zafoor, the

colonel and manager of the machinery delivery in Ta’iz governorate, declared that the presence of women in the military is crucial, especially with regards to identification of women, matching photos to faces, and in the security field in general.

He added that only women are able to inspect the crime scene if women were part of the crime. “Both men and women are essential in security work.

Those who believe women are not as important as men are mistaken because they are the basis of our work, and they aid the integration of the community into public service.”

Asarar Adel, the first sergeant in Ta’iz governorate said, “our presence as women police was rejected at first, and we are still suffering because it is considered a man’s job.

People started accepting us particularly in the administrative field, and in matching women’s photos.”

Policewoman Laila al-Nasheri said, “Ten years ago, I heard about those who wish to join the police force. I could only register after getting my father’s approval, because paternal consent is a necessary condition in this area, but my family raised a lot of problems.

“But recently I won over my father and the confidence of my family because I behaved admirably. I respect myself and my job and I eventually graduated after a long, determined effort. I can’t deny that my major caused me many problems, and a lot was expected from me in this masculine atmosphere.”

A group of women police in the security administration of Ta’iz governorate were asked to speak about this issue and they

all wanted to speak collectively.

They asserted the role of women security in Bani Hishaish against terrorism and against Houthi rebels as well, and they revealed terrorists’ plans of transporting weapons through women.

They also reported that they receive the same tasks as men, and that their part is essential because crime does not know a sex. They added that they had faced many problems, especially the first batch which graduated in 2001.

The faculty doesn’t accept any application without consent of the volunteer’s father, because in Yemen’s conservative community, the idea of a female policewoman is frowned upon.

Police and army still have negative ideas about women police, but society has begun to accept the idea more because of the work of female officers’ work in passports and civil status in terms of photographing and identification, in order to preserve their privacy and dignity in the conservative community.

Women police also said that they are not affected by those among their colleagues who regard them as competition, and consider their career appropriate only for men.

“We are here not to be on behalf of others; we are an element of successful security in the country, and we work toward achieving its objectives in an optimal way,” said al-Nasheri.

Eman, a recently inducted policewoman, described her extreme happiness when her father took her and her sister to register at the security administration in Ta’iz. She was still young, in sixth grade but was happy that she would be a police

woman who would protect the country.

Her wish finally came true when she was accepted. “I used to train before sunrise in the academy courtyard. I looked forward to graduation, and I was excited to learn about the regulations and laws she had learnt from her military trainers.

“Our presence does not obstruct men; women are efficient in maintaining security and public tranquility. Tough tasks are the same for both men and women,” she added.

After that, she paused for a minute looking far in the distance, and then she continued, “eventually, we graduated, but we have regretted it. My daily

schedule starts from the early morning. I wake up then I prepare my sisters for the school.

After that I go to my work and review paperwork until the afternoon.”

“I archive and receive files, then I show them to my director.

Then I go to eat something and relax for sometime after that, I go work at the cosmetics store around 8 o’clock, then I go back home – this is my routine,” she said.

She remembered, “Now, I sometimes take time from my work to go to lectures at the college.” She paused for a while, she turned to me smiling then she continued her speech.

“Despite all this, people still

don’t feel pity for me. They think women police are bad and I’m still not married for this reason. What makes it worse, I don’t receive my whole salary neither from the military academy nor from the cosmetics store.

“The academy salary I give to my father because he registered me in the military, and I also give some money to my mother who got divorced.

“The Community and our male colleagues don’t leave us alone because we are women police,” she said. After that she stood and asked me not to mention her full name. “We cannot escape our fate,” she said painfully.

National Yemen

FEATURE

Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010 Issue 25 www.nationalyemen.com

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Al-Maja’la After One Year

A visit to the area bombed with 15 cruise missiles and two cluster bombs Arafat Madabesh Special to National Yemen When South Yemen was the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY) from 1967 to 1990, the area lived under the rule of the Yemeni Socialist Party, and hard-line Islamic Jihadist groups did not exist in this part of the country.

The socialist regime reined in the country after independence from the British Crown in 1967. However, after the Yemeni unity between both Northern and Southern parts of the country on May 22, 1990, many radical religious groups returned to the south of Yemen, and most of them had been in Afghanistan and came to be called ‘the Arab Afghans.’

Also, the Southerners among them were hostile to the former Marxist regime in South Yemen, and they accuse it of abusing clergymen in the South before the unity. Perhaps that hostility was the primary motivation for the alliance of these forces with the northern part for unity during the political crisis in 1993, and their participation in the war of summer of 1994 against the forces of the Yemeni Socialist Party, which was defeated in the war.

There were a lot of prominent names in this field, such as Sheikh Tareq Al-Fadhli, Jamal Al-Nahdi, Khalid Abdul Nabi and other ‘Jihadist’ personalites from South Yemen. But, with the passage of time new figures appeared and joined, not only the jihadist groups, but also Al-Qaeda itself. Among these is the hardliner American of Yemeni origin, Anwar Al-Awlaqi, as well as his fellow Fahd Al-Qasa’ Al-Awlaqi, and others.

In the last few years and with the growing ‘southern movement’, which calls for what it calls ‘disengagement’ or separation from the North, Yemeni authorities began to accuse the southern movement of coordination with al-Qaeda, and the official media began to point fingers to the so-called ‘the Al-Qaeda southern movement,’ accusing it of being behind a number of security incidents taking place in some southern areas.

But, before the recent security developments in southern Yemen, a number of major terrorist incidents took place in Yemen, such as bombing of the USS Cole in October 2000 in the port of Aden. Two years later the French oil tanker ‘Lindburg’ was targeted near Al-Dhabba port in the province of Hadramout, along with other terrorist incidents that the al-Qaida organization carried out.

During the last few months, the Yemeni security forces have fought in violent clashes against Al-Qaeda elements in the provinces of Abyan and Shabwa, and perhaps the most notable are the confrontations in Lawder city in Abyan and

al-Houta in Shabwa.

These continued events made South Yemen a scene for the activity and movement of al-Qaeda in this region across wide geographic area, most of which is characterized by very rugged geographical terrain.

The new developments have created a new rhythm in the war on terrorism in Yemen, where warplanes were used to carry out a series of air strikes against the positions of al-Qaeda.

One of these positions lies in the region of Rafadh in the Directorate of Al-Arem, Shabwa.

The following account is the first visit by a media organization to the ruins of the bombing, after a whole year since it was bombarded on 24 December, 2009.

Rafadh is located to the north of Al-Arem city that is located on the Aden-Shabwa road, but to which access is very difficult. It is mountainous with unpaved roads, and above all, it is remote and far from population centers.

The most prominent thing a visitor can notice is that there is no official presence of the State or the Government of Yemen with the exception of a single public school, whose story will be discussed later.

Rafadh is one of the areas inhabited by al-Awaleq tribes of Shabwa. The al-Awaleq tribe is divided into two parts: higher Awaleq and lower Awaleq. To the higher Awaleq belong Fahd Al-Qasa’ and Anwar Al-Awlaqi, both wanted by the U.S.A. and the Yemeni authorities for the time being.

When you pass the main road that connects AdenAbyan-Shabwa-HadramoutAl-Mahara in the south, and you stop in some cities and areas on the main road, you’ll find a presence of the state, although in some relatively small military checkpoints.

However, when you leave the road to the countryside, you’ll only find high mountains, canyons, misery and difficulty life for the inhabitants of those Bedouin areas.

In this region are a lot of important figures and influen-

tial personalities in Shabwa, including Sheikh Ali Abdullah Abdul Salam, known as Al-Mullah Zabarah, a member of the local municipal council and one who had kidnapped foreigners in order to meet demands for raising the level of services and improving infrastructure in their region.

Rafadh, whose name is derived from the word for ‘rejection; non-acceptance’ can be described as outside modern history and geography, especially for the concerns of government.

The region is rugged and its inhabitants live a hard life. The region has unpaved roads, with no electricity, water or education projects. Most people there live a semi-primitive life with wild beasts and reptiles, with the exception of some dignitaries’ attempts to provide some elements of modern life for their families.

For example, Sheikh Lahmar Lasud, has assigned a car to transport his children, nephews and cousins from the region of al-Naqabah, near Ataq city, the capital of the province. The students’ trip every day takes nearly two hours to al-Naqabah (one hour on the rough, unpaved road and one hour on the asphalt road, while most of the region's children cannot even attend school.

There is only one school in this region, which is closed because it has no teachers. This school was used by elements of Al-Qaeda organization there to teach the Koran and religious sciences to children before they left the school after the bombing we referred to previously.

‘‘

These continued events made South Yemen a scene for the activity and movement of al-Qaeda in this region across wide geographic area,

Children not fortunate enough to receive educationm in the region of Rafadh (photo by ‘the Middle East’)

The Farm of Fahd Al-Qasa’

The school was closed.

Following the same air bombardment, most of the villagers left their homes, some of which consist of several floors, and moved to isolated camps and communities in valleys.

Every family member gets together in one camp at a distance from the other. The residents al-Mullah Zabarah says that the region does receive any official attention, and that teachers and services, including electricity, water, roads, etc., do not reach the region. “However, only the elections’ ballot box reaches the region.”

Zabarah saidthat the region was hit by U.S. Cruise missiles and cluster bombs, because an area believed to be al-Qaeda’s military training camp was targeted. The Yemeni authorities claim that the Yemeni planes carried out an air strike on the farm of Fahd Al-Qasa’, an Al-Qaeda leader and the world’s third wanted man for terrorism after Osama Bin Laden and Ayman Al-Zawahiri.

But residents and American sources said that the U.S. Air force performed the strike. In one of the regions of Shabwa last Tuesday, “al-Sharq al-Awsat” newspaper held an interview with Fahd Al-Qasa, after a visit to Rafadh.

A visitor to the Al-Qasa’ farm and other sites that had been bombarded will find ruins and debris of the air strikes with missiles and bombs,

Al-Mullah Zabarah holding the remains of a cluster bomb

School, where Al-Qaeda used to teach students

which the citizens say were cluster bombs.

The generator that pulls up water from the well on the farm was destroyed, as well as the house which was used by Al-Qaeda elements as a store for food and supplies. It is clear from places that were targeted by the bombing that these elements were distributed to groups in the mountains so as not to be targeted collectively.

There the visitor can see the effects of the bombing apparent on the stones, burned trees, destroyed houses and remains of some of the blankets used by the wanted elements of Al-Qaeda. It was learned from the residents of the region that the air strike left 5 militants dead, including an Algerian citizen.

Near the tents of his family, Al-Mullah Zabarah keeps a number of pieces of rockets and bombs that hit the region.

The man makes use of the metal plates to cover some parts of one of the tents. He affirmed that the region was bombarded with 15 cruise missiles and two cluster bombs.

When you take a tour in the

long and dry valley, which divides Rafadh into two parts, you will see some yellow balloons, which are said to be part of the cluster bombs, among trees.

He also emphasizes that the missiles were launched from the US warships in international waters and that the US aircrafts dropped the bombs.

Of course, he criticizes the authority for not paying a visit to the region after the bombing and cleaning it of bombs.

He says that because the citizens’ knowledge of the risk of these balloons, they blew them up by fire from machine guns.

The issue of the U.S. forces carrying out strikes in Yemen remains one of a subject of controversy and dispute, until the truth is out.

The people of the region demand that the Yemeni government and the International Red Cross pay a field visit and assuage their suffering brought about by the displacement from their homes, which were destroyed in the bombardment or damaged, or may even be exposed to another bombing.

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Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010 Issue 25 www.nationalyemen.com

SPECIAL

National Yemen

Yemen in 2010: Yemen has experienced one of the most challenging and eventful years in its recent history. The attempt last December by a Nigerian man – allegedly trained and equipped by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula – to destroy a US-bound airliner exposed the country to unprecedented international attention.

A war in the North with Houthi rebels, which had drawn in neighboring Saudi Arabia, was ended with a shaky truce. Prolonged tensions with the Southern Movement witnessed dozens of riots and consistent violence.

Repeated attempts by al-Qaeda to attack the Yemeni state and international targets promoted a renewed Yemeni, regional, and international effort to combat

the group.

Disagreement between the ruling party and the opposition over elections scheduled for April, but repeatedly delayed, continue.

Still, the country continues to progress in soliciting international aid for mediation, development, and investment, with certain limited success.

The Gulf 20 Tournament in December concluded without any disturbances, and a Yemeni singer was triumphant in the “Gulf Star” Competition.

What follows is a brief summary of the events in Yemen over the past year.

January

March

14 Clerics in Yemen warn of

1 Yemen raid kills southern activist

jihad if US sends troops

A group of 15 prominent Muslim clerics, including the highly influential Sheik AbdulMajid al-Zindani, warned Thursday they will call for jihad, or holy war, if the U.S. sends troops to fight al-Qaida in Yemen.

27 Friends of Yemen Conference Convenes in the UK “I personally believe that now is the moment for the Yemeni government to really step up and do what it has said it will do,” Mrs. Clinton said after the conference, during which she delivered the same challenging message to Yemen’s prime minister, Ali Mohammed Mujawar.

“You can’t just continue to make promises in the face of very tough challenges like the ones Yemen is facing without being expected to actually manage and resolve some of those problems,” she said.

20 Britain suspends direct flights to Yemen Britain's government said Wednesday it would create a new terrorist no-fly list, target specific airline passengers for tougher security checks and suspend some international flights in response to a growing terrorism threat posed by Yemen and Somalia.

25 Houthi Fighters and Saudi Arabia Reach Ceasefire

Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, the leader of Yemen’s Zaidi al-Houthi rebel movement, allegedly announced a cease-fire with Saudi Arabia, and stated that al-Houthi rebels will withdraw from Saudi territory.

February

11 Yemen Announces Truce with

A government raid left a southern activist, his wife and three children dead during an ongoing crackdown on southern separatists in Yemen. Officials said Ali Saleh al-Hadi was killed with his family in a pre-dawn raid Monday on their home in Zinjabar town in southern Abyan province.

11

President offers to hold talks with southern separatists after vowing to crush them Yemen's president has offered to hold talks with separatists in the country's south, saying the state would listen to their grievances and "welcome any political demands".

"The separatist flags are going to burn in the coming days and weeks," Saleh told senior military officers on Monday, according to Yemen's defence ministry.

17 Yemen rebels free prisoners At least 178 soldiers and civilians released as part of Houthi truce with the government.

19 Yemen declares end to northern war President hails a ceasefire with Houthi fighters after a six-year conflict.

Ali Abdullah Saleh said in an interview aired on Friday that the success of a ceasefire pact put into force on February 12 was a "sign that the war has ended and that this is not just a passing truce."

April

1

Scores escape amid Yemen jail blast

Up to 40 "secessionist sympathisers" on the run after incident in southern city of Daleh

10 World Bank Says Will Increase Yemen Aid to $200 million The World Bank intends to raise its aid for Yemen from $120 million to 200 million, Vice President of the WB for the MENA region Shamsahd Akhtar said on Sunday.

Rebels

Tarim Named Capital of Islamic Culture 2010

Yemen's president on Thursday declared an end to military operations against northern rebels after reaching a cease-fire agreement that could bring the country's six-year conflict to a close.

Tarim City in Yemen's eastern province of Hadramout is to be declared today the 2010 capital of Islamic Culture, in recognition of its spiritual role is spreading Islam throughout Asia and Africa

15

The riyal’s value against the dollar and other currencies in the foreign exchange market declines steeply, and the exchange rate for the dollar reached 228 YR for each U.S. dollar.

Yemeni rebels release Saudi soldier Northern rebels in Yemen handed over a captured Saudi soldier to Yemeni government mediators, the latest sign that a six-year-old conflict is calming down.

27

Thousands demonstrate in the major cities of the former southern republic Ali Salem al-Baid, who led the south to unity with the north in 1990, called for a second day of "southern anger" on Saturday, to coincide with a meeting of international donors to Yemen in neighbouring Saudi Arabia.

"I call on you ... to send a message to our Arab brothers and to the representatives of the international community gathered in Riyadh underlining your rejection of the occupation and your commitment to self-determination," Baid said.

19 Fall of Yemeni Riyal over Dollar

26 UK diplomat escapes Yemen attack Embassy suspends operations after bomber attacks ambassador Tim Torlot’s convoy in Sanaa.

A suspected suicide bomber has blown himself up near the convoy of the British ambassador in Sanaa, the Yemeni capital, police said.

May

18 German hostages rescued in Yemen Saudi Arabia's intelligence forces free two German girls abducted in Yemen last year

National Yemen

SPECIAL

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A Look Back

1 Birth of National Yemen

Independent journalism, objective insight

NationalYemen The Facts As They Are

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25 Air raid kills Yemeni mediator

Tribesmen retaliate against botched security operation by blowing up oil pipeline A botched air raid has killed a provincial official in Yemen, and tribesmen have blown up an oil pipeline in retaliation, according to local press reports and the Reuters news agency.

Members of Jaber al-Shabwani tribe responded to his killing by attacking the pipeline that carries oil from Maarib to Ras Isa, a terminal on the Red Sea coast.

June

19 Police building attacked in Yemen Armed men clash with guards a day after al-Qaeda threatens anti-government assault.

The attackers were reported to have freed a number of people being held at the facility

July

12 Emir of Qatar Visits Yemen The Emir arrives in Sana’a accompanied by a high-level delegation including Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

17Government Yemeni cleric blacklisted in US freezes assets of American-born alleged

al-Qaeda leader Anwar al-Awlaki

26 Yemen's army battles rebels in north; dozens dead

Yemeni soldiers battled Shiite rebels a short distance from the capital on Monday in clashes that killed dozens, a tribal leader said.

A cease-fire unraveled in June, re-igniting a six-year conflict that spilled across the border last year by drawing in the Saudi military.

August

20 Clash in Yemen's restive south leaves 13 dead A clash between troops and civilians at a market in Yemen's restive south on Friday left 13 people dead, including 10 soldiers, a security official said.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak to the media, said the fighting erupted after military vehicles drove into a market in the town of Lawdar in the southern Abyan province.

24 Rebels reach truce with Yemen tribe Houthi rebels and government-backed tribe reach ceasefire deal after days of fighting Sheikh Qassem Qubaida, who led the mediation team of tribal chiefs, told the AFP news agency that the Houthi rebels and the Bin Aziz tribe, led by Sheikh Sagheer Aziz, a member of parliament, were "persuaded... to stop firing".

25 Yemen kills 'al-Qaeda fighters' Deputy interior minister hails troops for storming "dens of terrorists" in Loder.

Earlier reports about the violence in Loder, 250km southeast of Sanaa, the capital, indicated the clashes were between the military and townspeople.

Yemeni officials say the country's army has killed 12 anti-government fighters and retaken control of a southern town after several days of fighting.

7 IMF Announces $ 369.8 Million in Three-Year Aid to

Yemen

22 Besieged al-Qaida militants battling Yemeni troops Al-Qaida militants holed up in a village in south Yemen on Wednesday fought off repeated attempts by government troops backed by tanks and heavy artillery to retake the besieged town, officials said. Thousands of people have fled Hawta and the surrounding area in Shabwa province since security forces laid siege to the village three days ago.

October

6 British diplomats attacked in Yemen Three people injured after a car carrying the deputy chief of the UK mission comes under attack in the capital, Sanaa.

18 Third Yemen OGM Conference Launches in Sanaa

The third Oil, Gas and Minerals Conference, hosted

by OGM, began in Sana'a with the participation of 75 international and Arab companies and more than 500 participants.

21 Saudi-Sponsored Mass Wedding for Yemeni Orphans

23 Yemen hosts the Arab tourism investment forum in Sana'a

29 Bomb plot prompts security alert Investigations launched after discovery of explosives in packages shipped by air from Yemen to targets in the US. Security officials across three continents are on high alert after the UK and the United Arab Emirates intercepted two packages containing explosive mate-

rial that were being shipped by air from Yemen to targets in the US. Both contained computer-printer equipment packed with powder and attached to wires.

31 Yemeni arrested, al-Qaida bomber eyed in mail plot

Yemeni police arrested a woman on suspicion of mailing a pair of bombs powerful enough to take down airplanes, officials said Saturday as details emerged about a terrorist plot aimed at the U.S. that exploited security gaps in the worldwide shipping system.

November

24, 26 Al-Qaeda Claims Responsibility for Twin Bomb Attacks in North

28 Wikileaks Disclosures: strikes

Yemen covered up US air

Tranche of diplomatic files describe hazy geopolitical events and add color to military interaction around the world.

29 Kidnapped Saudi freed in Yemen

Armed tribesmen freed Saudi hospital director hours after kidnapping, amid assurances to release jailed kinsmen.

December

5 Gulf 20 Tournament in Aden

Comes to a Successful Close

September

4 Yemen Announces New Arrangements for Selling LNG There are new arrangements for selling Yemeni LNG to the global market including tripling prices and sending 15 shipments to the Korean market instead of the U.S. market, the Oil and Minerals Minister said.

5 Deadly clashes erupt in south Yemen Violence broke out at dawn after security forces put up a checkpoint outside Habilayn, in Lahej province, pitting Yemen's army against members of the separatist Southern Movement.

Police force suffers losses at the hands of separatist fighters in Lahej and Abyan provinces as violence continues.

7

13, 14 International Coffee

Conference convenes in Sana’a

20 Yemeni singer wins Star of the Gulf Competition

Foad Abdulwahed won the title. The Yemeni young singer from Taiz province became the Star of the Gulf after a hard competition with other young singers from gulf countries.

8

Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010 Issue 25 www.nationalyemen.com

National Yemen

BUSINESS

Aden Gulf Project Launched

Initial Cost Set to be 50 million dollars.

By Foud Al-Kadi

Federation of Chambers President of Aden Gulf Ltd. Announced this week, “the project will work to develop and boost the national economy and contribute to the creation of numerous employment opportunities.

The General Investment Authority launched the Aden Gulf project this week, which will be implemented in Aden free zone and will cost $50 million in its first phase.

The project envisions establishing an economic zone with a multi-purpose master plan providing opportunities to live, work, and relax in the context of a safe working environment and low-cost lifestyle.

The project to be implemented by Aden Gulf Ltd., part of the larger Hayel Saeed Anam Group of companies also includes industrial, storage, logistics commercial and residential facilities which will develop the infrastructure of the industry in the free zone and confirm its desired role in promoting the

economic and commercial role of Aden.

In the inauguration ceremony of the project, which was attended by a number of ministers, the chairman of the General Investment Authority for Salah Alattar, confirmed that the project will contribute significantly to enhancing the status of the city of Aden as a trading center in the region.

He also mentioned, “Aden Gulf project includes the construction of residential and commercial areas and areas of light industry and logistics, in addition to the facilities of the pier,” observing that the project reflects the government's directives to the actual partnership between the public and private sectors.”

Alattar added “Aden Gulf shows that Yemen is an attractive investment destination for the private sector and Aden is open to various local and foreign investments. The project reflects the government's directives to the actual partnership between

the public and private sectors.”

The project is expected to create more than a thousand local jobs.

Mohammed Abdo Saeed, President of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, commented, that the Aden Gulf project would not progress without the commitment of many of the major shareholders, including the government.

“The Aden Free Zone’s management , the General Investment Authority, the Ministry of Transport, and the partnership between public and private sectors is what will support economic expansion in Yemen and will bring prosperity in the future,” added Saeed.

He also pointed out that this project is of vital national concern, and will advance development and boost the national economy and growth and contribute to the creation of numerous employment opportunities which would reduce unemployment and raise the standard of

living and the welfare of the Yemeni people.

Also, project manager Waleed Fahmi Qasem presented a comprehensive overview of the project and its stages, objectives, main components and services to be provided by and contribute to push forward the development.

After the inaugurating ceremony, agreements were signed for the project in the

Aden Free Zone between Aden Gulf Company Development Co, Ltd "Aden Gulf" and the “ICOM” technical Services company and Brooke Wood Capital Corporation.

Brooke Wood is to act as advisers to major development of the Aden Gulf in the Aden free zone and the Aden port.

The firm, a leading international consulting companmy, will also develop a work and financial

plan for the project.

And according to the agreements “ICOM” Technical Services company will undertake the responsibility of creating a master plan, development strategy, and management plan of operations, as well as supervising and restructuring major engineering activities related to the project’s enlistment of leading technical advisers.

Faltering Real Estate Projects to Go Ahead

By Fuad Al-Qadhi Saad Sabra, CEO of general institution management at the Shibam Holding Company for real estate development and investment confirmed that a project that has been agreed upon with a number of Gulf investors would be executed on time, except some projects of the Emirates Business, which have been stopped as a result of the financial crisis.

He noted the Business Company projects have stopped as a result of the financial crisis, which was experienced not only by Yemen, but

by the whole region and world.

With regard to the delay of executing some Gulf projects, signed during the 2007-2008 period, Sabra attributed the delay to technical issues related to faulty studies, designs, construction plans, competing legal frameworks, and lack of infrastructure in regions of the project area.

Sabbra reported that most of these projects are going be executed in the upcoming year, particularly the $100 million SunRise project, belonging to Emirates Group. The planned complex is to consist of eight

residential towers on an area of 230 thousand square meters.

Prime Minister Dr. Mohammed Mujawar laid the foundation stone in June 2008, and confirmed that there are many other projects being executing in Aden, Hodeida, and the capital Sana'a.

Sabbra added the al-Gabeza general institution for development and investment, and the Shibam Holding Company and Emirati Soroh Future Company for construction, located in Dubai, recently signed a contract in Sana’a on a partnership to establish a

joint investment company in the field of the development, rehabilitation, and the internationalization of laborers.

The CEO of Shebam said establishing the Yemen company for investment laborers Ltd is part of the government effort to keep pace with the requirements of the real estate and construction labor markets during the development witnessed by those sectors in recent years.

“The partnership agreement articulates the aims of expanding and completing the investment partnership with

private and the public sectors in neighbouring countries, especially the Arab Gulf countries, as well as upon the desire of Sorouh Future for Emirates construction for investment in Yemen,” he said Sabbra added the company is working on development and internationalization of Yemeni labor. This will be achieved through specialization in the fields of construction and civil engineering through preparation and rendering laborers qualified in the fields of building and construction.

Poverty Rate in Rural Areas Reachs 40%

Saad Sabra “Such a plan would enhance the technical and the professional levels to meet companies’ requirements in the areas of the real estate development and construction in Yemen and the Gulf countries,” Sabbra concluded.

Government report finds that more than half of the population lives on less than two dollars per day

By Fuad Al-Qadhi A recent government report revealed that poverty is still one of the most important problems facing Yemeni society and its rate varies between the rural and urban populations. In rural areas it reaches at 40.1 percent, versus 20.7 percent in cities.

For the sake of the survey, poverty is measured in terms of income and food in addition to material, social, and psychological deprivation.

The four main causes of poverty, the report found, are a lack of employment opportunities to enable citizens to earn a living, no resources or assets such as agricultural land (as poor communities often depend on seasonal activities), high prices, and the scarcity of water resources and drought.

Another important factor reported was large family size, which relates to illiteracy and the resulting inability to get jobs.

Economic challenges Dr. Mohamed Al-Afandi, former Minister of Supply and Trade and Chairman of the Yemeni Center for Strategic Studies, highlighted in the recent study that the problem of poverty and unemployment is

one of the biggest economic challenges facing the country, with more than half of the population living on less than two dollars per day.

The extent of poverty goes higher in the Yemeni countryside and in some provinces, as the rate of unemployment among young people aged 15 to 24 amounts to about 53 percent.

‘‘

problem of poverty and unemployment is one of the biggest economic challenges facing the country,

Al-Afandi adds, “The food gap widens and the percentage

of self-sufficiency of food commodities declines, where the percentage of self-sufficiency of food commodities of wheat is estimated at around 7 to 8 percent, and there are 7.5 million people who do not have access to adequate food. Some official statistics suggest that 32% of the population is below the risk of food insecurity.”

According to the Yemeni economic researcher, Abdullah Al-Khatib, the two problems of poverty and equitable distribution of income is one of the major economic and social problems faced by the country, especially in rural provinces.

The social fieldwork survey, carried out by Social Welfare Fund during 2008, which had its final results approved recently by the Council of Ministers, has revealed that the number of cases of poverty that have been surveyed have amounted to more than a million and 602 thousand cases, 500 thousand cases more than the cases researched previously.

The Executive Director of the Fund, Mansour Alfayyadhi, points out that 116 thousand and 102 cases are the most deserving of direct cash assistance and that

540 thousand and 601 cases need assistance, which depends on the availability of funds.

Al-Fayyadhi said that the total number of illiterate people among the cases covered by the survey amounted to a staggering one million, and that most of them are women without a bread-winner and unemployed.

According to local and

international documents, Yemen is considered the poorest state in the Middle East and North Africa region and the rate of the Yemeni population who earn less than two dollars per day arrived at 47.6% in 2008, bearing in mind that the global food crisis has undermined the achievements made in reducing of poverty in Yemen.

HEALTH National Yemen Midwives: How to Save a Life

Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010 Issue 25 www.nationalyemen.com

9

The unspoken importance of the midwives in Yemen By: Dan Driscoll and Jihan Anwar

One day during the mid1980’s, Noor Al-Hakimi was making what was supposed to be another routine visit in the rural village in Dhamar, 100km south of Sana’a. Without being called or having an appointment, she casually visited a woman at her house only to find her giving birth on the dirt floor next to her bed.

“The mother was exposed to tetanus and other diseases by giving birth on the floor, because she wanted to keep the bed clean, ” Noor recalled. The house was so poor that there were no disinfectants nor typical means of sterilizing the area. The lives of the mother and child hung precariously in the balance.

Noor’s training and instinct took over as she began sterilizing her tools and surroundings in the best way possible given the challenging environment.

If almost by luck, Noor helped give birth to a healthy baby, and the mother’s life was saved.

But normally, chance has nothing to do with it; this was just another day in the life of Noor’s important work as a midwife.

Noor Al-Hakimi, currently serving as the director of the midwives program at the High Institute of Health Sciences (HIHS), was a trainer in an USAID-sponsored midwife coaching program in 1985. The participants, traditional bed attendants called “Al Murshidaat”, were taught basic rules such as creating hygienic spaces, sterilizing equipment and knowing when to refer women with complicated problems to hospitals.

Even after 25 years, these skills remain vital as they can reduce the annual deaths of 385,000 women around the world who die from preventable compli-

cations during pregnancy. Nearly one-third of the 3 million neonatal deaths that occur every year are caused by preventable infections.

Discouragingly, Yemen continually records some the highest amount of these deaths of all the countries in the world.

How to address these preventable deaths in developing countries such as Yemen is daunting. The country is too big, population centers too disparate, and there is too little infrastructure rendering it practically impossible for the government to send doctors to cover every region.

The simplest of health facilities can only be built for areas with a population over 5,000 people.

Even in areas with facilities and doctors, Yemeni women refuse or are denied the permission in public centers where male staff are in charge.

As such, midwives are one of the most effective tools of overcoming these challenges in Yemen. They are trained – and are expected to work – in the areas where they live, successfully gaining the trust and respect of their communities. A recent USAID study conducted in Zambia showed that women who gave birth in the presence of a traditional birth attendant who was trained in simple life saving techniques reduced neonatal deaths by 40%.

Midwives are even more effective as they are charged with supporting women throughout their entire pregnancies. Prenatal counseling, and regular check ups through a women’s 9-months are just as important as the birth itself to ensure a safe delivery.

Healthy and appropriate nutritional advice before and after childbirth are essential, especially

in Yemen, where the high incidence of malnutrition and anemia puts pregnant women at greater risk. Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), a direct result of these conditions, remains the leading direct cause of maternal mortality accounting for 25% of maternal deaths in the developing world.

The HIHS, based in Sana’a with branches throughout the country, is the leading institution in Yemen which provides training for mid-level medical staff such as, but not limited to, midwives, nurses, anesthetist and lab technicians. The HIHS has recognized the high value of midwives and their potential in improving health in Yemen.

“Training midwives is the single most powerful tool to help Yemen achieve two of the Millennium Development Goals: reducing maternal mortality rates and neonatal deaths,” affirmed Dr Taha Al-Mahbashi, Vice Dean at the HIHS. The steps for becoming a midwife follow a unique course in the HIHS system compared with international training for midwives. Elsewhere, midwives are typically registered nurses who specialize in delivery assistance.

But by providing a specific midwife training program, the HIHS enhances the number of trained women working as midwives throughout the country.

The Institute has developed a two-tiered program to train the midwives featuring a two-year course for primary school graduates, and a three-year course for high school graduates.

This allows more students to be trained in midwifery, and the program graduates over 80 midwives every year.

This specialized education track provides midwives with more extensive and professionally based training than the traditional bed attendants found in previous decades. The training provides rigorous learning environment structured on a 30% theory and 70% practical training.

The young midwives-to-be are trained to advise on family planning, perform vaccinations, as well as to identify and solve possibly threatening conditions through repeated examinations before and after birth to evaluate the course of the pregnancy.

Midwives are becoming even more effective as there is more support than ever for midwives in Yemen. The Social Fund for Development (SFD), an independent government agency which aims at alleviating poverty countrywide, is actively supporting the Yemen government’s National Health Strategy for 2011-2015. This plan specifically mentions the necessity to upgrade and increase skills and opportunities for midwives.

As such, an initiative was supported by the SFD and started by the National Midwives Association has created a network of midwives to collaborate and share information but also to allow more access to local midwives. Furthermore, several schemes, such as one supported by the Dutch, has helped midwives develop private businesses to expand their profession into profitable enterprises.

However, despite the proven results of midwifes, significant challenges remain in expanding their numbers. One of the largest hurdles is the stigma of midwives, as many families do not see this as a professional path.

It is generally believed that midwives are only slightly different from traditional attendants

resulting in a gross underestimation of their abilities and education.

Additionally, many midwives struggle to find work in public facilities. Even if they do find work the pay can be sporadic, leaving it as a less than desirable job to pursue.

Yet the sense of purpose many women have in their pursuit to become midwives surmount any challenges they face. Bushra Daweod, a midwives trainer of HIHS students at Sabaein Hospital, recalled her motivation to choose this professional path started while she herself was giving birth.

‘‘

it practically impossible for the government to send doctors to cover every region.

“The midwife assisting me improperly managed the operation, causing a cranial hemorrhage in my baby,” Bushra frightfully recalled. The head of her baby girl turned black and began to swell in the hours after her birth. The child was immediately rushed back to the hospital where she received the treatment and attention she needed and fully recovered.

“After that situation, I knew that I had to strive to make sure

this never happened to any else,” said Bushra. She didn’t wait long to begin, not even completing her standard 40 days of rest with her new born, she enrolled in the HIHS midwives program.

Bushra now works to instill in her students not only the pure physical practice of delivery assistance, but also to emphasize the importance of the help they are providing to women. It is no surprise then that when National Yemen met with students in their classrooms at the HIHS they commonly described a strong social motivation.

“I used to visit villages with a mid-wife who often asked me to help her” said a second year mid-wife student. My experience taught me the only real way to help women in the villages was by gaining proper skills and knowledge.”

Other students explained that, when they realized the staggering shortage of midwives, despite the high need throughout the country, they became dedicated to their career path.

They further cited the importance of saving mothers, who will indirectly promote the well-being of the rest of the women’s family as well.

SFD’s Health Sector Officer, Majed Al-Sharjabi, observed, “When a woman dies, there are usually orphans. Who is going to take care of the orphans? From my point of view it’s a tragedy that a woman should die whilst giving life.”

Fortunately, a new generation of midwives, under the stewardship of visionary women such as Bushra Daweod, Noor Al-Hakimi, and the dedicated staff at HIHS, will be the solution that will prevent the tragedies that often mark women’s health in rural villages throughout Yemen.

Yemen Autism Center Recruits Students to Address Autism

By: Dan Driscoll and Jihan Anwar A two day bazaar was held at The upbeat music faded as the Yemen Autism Center on the 22nd first speaker began the introducand 23rd of December in order to tion of a series of talks while an increase awareness and support audience of teenagers and young for autism in Yemen as well as to adults listened attentively.The encourage students to participate enormous presence of young in new YAC program that will people was intended by the train youth for future careers in organizers, as the primary purpose providing autism treatment. of the bazaar was to introduce The bazaar was filled with arts students from Sana’a to autism and crafts while young people and and recruit them for a new children roamed about eager to program started by the center. This learn more about the little known program will help train young mental disorder called autism; a people through a 2 year bachelor disease that inhibits social interac- degree study to increase the capaction of children worldwide. The ity of Yemen to help children with atmosphere was as lively as the Autism. volunteers who staffed it as music Noor Najjar, a young Palestinplayed loudly until the bazaar ian volunteer at the center, recalled officially began. that “many of the young attendees

were surprised by the kids with autism at first, but by the end of the bazaar they were playing with the children from the center.” The organizers believe the bazaar will reveal itself a key starting point in their recruitment of students for the new school.

Noor also stated that this represented the success of another objective of the bazaar, namely raising social awareness as they “want people to understand handicapped children...and have open minds in addressing autism.”

Suad Al Eryani, founder of the Yemen Autism Center, further stressed the importance of the bazaar as a mean to garner support for the centers programs. These

programs provide behavior change courses, training in social integrations and support programs in speech and language therapy. The center even provides extra curricular activities such as swimming, music and physical training.

Despite their need to help children with Autism, Al-Eryani stated that “only 10% of our funding comes from the government, and the rest we have to find on our own.”

Funding is difficult to obtain and much more is needed. Had sufficient financial resources been available, “we would have been able to perform necessary research to learn more about autism in Yemen, there is still much more we don’t know,” said Noor Najjar.

This lack of knowledge on autism was the main reason for the establishment of the center. Suad Al Eryani was unable to diagnose her own daughter with Autism until she was 6. By then it was too late and much of the treatment which could have alleviated the symptoms would no longer be effective at such an age. So in September of 2005 the Yemen Center for Autism was officially created. It has since grown to providing over 500 students with treatment, support, counselling and at the same time attempting to integrate treated kids into public schools.

The students attending the center have varying levels of

Autism. The signs of autism are generally characterized as difficulties in social interactions and communication as well as preferences for controlled environments.

Most of the signs for Autism are expressed by the age of two and the best way to alleviate the symptoms of autism is by immediate intervention. It is still unclear the root cause for autism, but researchers have noticed a marked increase in autism cases.

The YAC hopes that through awareness campaigns such as the bazaar, the awareness and interests of individuals towards autistic children will grow before the number of cases can have a chance to increase.

10

POLITICS

Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010 Issue 25 www.nationalyemen.com

National Yemen

Al-Iryani Criticizes Media Exaggerations Presidential Adviser Speaks to France24 Television

Dr. Iryani reported in a conversation with the France24channel, in response to a question about Yemen as a supposed major base for al-Qaeda, “the media exaggerates the extent of al-Qaeda’s role in Yemen”.

The political advisor of the Yemeni president, Dr. Abdul Kareem Al-Iryani confirmed that Yemen could overcome al-Qaeda alone, refusing American demands “many times” to participate in ground operations to pursue and attack al-Qaeda.

Their request was “rejected completely,” and he noted that the American-Yemeni relationship is good and normal.

“There is no doubt, that al-Qaeda exists in Yemen and it is irritating the situation – that we all know. But I think its dimensions and scope are not anything like what we are imagining,” he said.

“The problem is that those in the al-Qaeda group do not live alone on some base; they live with their children, wives, sheep, camels. There is no way to attack al-Qaeda without harming civilians," he added.

Dr. al-Iryani rejected the portrayal of the situation in Yemen as comparable to what is happening in Pakistan or Afghanistan, saying, “it is far from reality.”

In his response to a question on whether the calm in the South means the current political tension had been overcome, he commented, “the movement is huge, but it has been exaggerated; still, we can’t deny that there are political and economic demands, and the legitimate ones are being handled as much as possible.”

Dr. al-Iryani spoke also about the economic situation, the Houthi rebellion, and the political dialogue with the opposition. A transcript of the interview follows: Welcome everybody to this new France24 Interview. Our guest today is the political advisor of the President of the Republic, and the former Prime Minister of Yemen, Abdul Kareem al-Iryani. Welcome Mr. al-Iryani: Thank You. Q. Let us start with the political situation in Yemen, Mr Iryani. How is it?

The political situation is like any other situation: always unstable and recently there is a dialogue with the opposition parties about the upcoming elections, and there is no doubt it is a fluid political situation.

Q. Ok. The events in North have calmed down, does that mean the current political tension has been overcome?

It has not been completely overcome, because there are issues we need to deal with before it can be completely overcome. Still, I believe the situation was exaggerated. It is still an issue, but we cannot deny the legitimate demands we are trying to resolve as much as possible and at the end it is…

Q. Political demands?

You can say political and

financial.

Q. Economic you mean?

Let me tell you, the economic situation in Yemen, in the South and in the North is very, very difficult. There are those suffering from the economic situation in North who believe that Unity is the cause while people in South blame the government; the whole situation has been politicized. It’s normal that the public opinion and spontaneous feelings must be addressed somehow.

Q. Is the Houthi threat still on-going?

Recently, there has been the Qatari mediation and things are going well, and I think if the Qatari meditation reached its goal, the Houthi threat would finish completely and reconstruction could begin.

‘‘

Yemen could overcome alQaeda alone, refusing American demands “many times” to participate in ground operations to pursue and attack alQaeda.

Q. What is the goal of this meditation, Mr al-Iryani?

First, to stop the war; second, to find a resolution for disagreements, especially in a final, conclusive way. There are issues such as the releasing of Houthi detainees, as well as those kidnapped by the Houthis, and returning heavy weapons seized by the Houthis, which should be only under government control. I believe if we get though this stage, we could start with reconstruction, which would solve the underlying problems, since the Houthis are from the poorest governorate in Yemen.

Q. With regard to reconstruction, Mr. al-Iryani, there are some saying the causes of the conflict are ideological, rather than developmental – is that true?

That has a big effect, but it is not the main reason. Frankly, what has happened and is still happening is something, let us say, to do with the tendency of the Zaidi Sect toward the Salafi extremists’ group, who do not agree with Zaidi Sect. There are financial problems, yes, we cannot deny that; and there are some trying to get rid of the Zaidi Sect, which has existed in Yemen since the third and fourth century A.H. You can’t destroy it, but it’s still a trend in the Arab World, singling out and attacking sects.

Q. We will come back to this point later, but is it right that Yemen is on its way to becoming a safe haven for the al-Qaeda organization?

This is a big issue. There is no doubt that al-Qaeda exists in Yemen; it is irritating things

and we all know that, but I believe its dimensions and its control of territory is not like what we are imagining.

Q. Is there no comparison between Yemen and Afghanistan?

This is far from reality. The events which happened and are still happening in Yemen don’t differ from the Times Square incident in New York: a group of people rigged an explosive car and they were about to explode it and kill dozens of people. What about the recent events in Stockholm? It’s the same story with Abdul al-Mutalib; he did not need a big army to attack the aircraft.

The same with those who packed the parcel bombs; they did not need a big army of technicians to make their attack, the only thing they needed was to arrange a delivery.

Q: Ok, some of the Wikileaks documents revealed president Ali Abdullah Saleh supported or at least, let us say, ignored the American aerial strikes which targeted al-Qaeda in Yemen; is this right?

First, the Wikileaks information is not a secret at all. There is an open cooperation that is not always announced.

Q. But why did Yemen not announce it?

I am careful to be honest with you; rather than saying it was announced, I’ll say that it was an open secret to everybody. There is cooperation between the US and Yemen; Yemen manages all the ground information and aircraft with no American pilot collects pictures and information on the ground, then the two parts agreed. The problem is the al-Qaeda group does not live by themselves on a base; they live with their children, wives, sheep, and camels. Al-Qaeda cannot be exploded without causing harm and injuries to civilians, but now we are preparing to compensate the civilian families.

‘‘

I think we asked for ten billion dollars, and we just got 6 million.

Q. Is America fighting al-Qaeda in Yemen? There are some who compare Yemen to Pakistan. Does that mean that America is engaged in fighting in Yemen also?

I am sure Yemen will overcome al-Qaeda and then the world will be convinced that Yemen is fighting the organization. The Pakistani case is totally different. The conflict there has its roots primarily in the clashes between the Pashtun and the governments in Pakistan and Afghanistan. You know the Pashtun do not accept the fact that the British split them between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Q. You mean Yemen is completely different Mr. al-Iryani. You have asked for help in fighting al-Qaeda.

What kind of help is that?

Recently, assistance with machinery and equipment with air reconnaissance training, and its main role has been the training of Yemeni forces.

Q. There was no direct US intervention?

No, it was not direct. They asked many times to participate in the ground operations, but they were completely rejected.

Q. What is the relationship like between Washington in the US? I considered it a good and normal relationship. It was not harmed by Wikileaks, which affected America not Yemen.

Q. In a recent conference, you petitioned for help from

international sources, did you not?

Yes, at the London conference.

Q. Yes, it is really enough and what use is this? Did they offer you what you asked for?

Not all of what we asked for, no. I think we asked for ten billion dollars, and we just got 6 million. But, this was some help on the donors’ part; they have developed some projects in cooperation with Yemeni government. There are many projects have been initiated and some are being executed.

Q. Let us come back to the parcel cases which have been sent from Yemen, is there anything new coming from your investigations?

The last thing I heard, some collaborators, but not the perpetrators have been arrested, which will of course help us

identify the perpetrators. The media has said there is a Saudi engineering graduate, by the name of al-Asiri, from the Aseer region, in the South of the kingdom, who had the main role in both cases.

Q. Was it identified where they came from?

Al-Qaeda, but they are Saudis, and it was a Saudi who stood before Prince Mohammed bin Nayef and blew himself up in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi side of al-Qaeda is very active in Yemen.

Thank you, thank you, Mr. Abdul Kareem al-Iryani. I remind everybody, you are the political adviser for the president Ali Abdullah Saleh and the former prime minister.

Thank you for watching us. See you in another episode of the France24 Interview. Goodbye.

National Yemen

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Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010 Issue 25 www.nationalyemen.com

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Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010 Issue 25 www.nationalyemen.com

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