إضغط هنا لقراءة الخبر بالعربية
The Yemen's internationally recognized government said on Thursday that flights will be resumed to and from Al Rayyan International Airport in Mukalla, the capital of Hadramout province in eastern Yemen.
Yemeni Prime Minister Dr. Maeen Abdulmalik discussed on Thursday with a number of leaders of the local authority and executive and social figures in the province of Hadramout the final arrangements for the reopening of Al Rayyan International Airport during the coming period, Aden-based Yemen (Saba) news agency reported.
Al Rayyan International Airport is one of the most prominent local airports
It ceased operating in April 2016 after the liberation of the city of Mukalla from the grip of al-Qaeda.
In April last year, a local official accused the United Arab Emirates, the main partner of the Arab Coalition, of constantly closing the airport and turning it into a military barracks.
The head of the Supreme Council of Revolutionary Movement Fouad Rashed, then "the suspension of the work in Al-Rayyan airport "came in accordance with a military decision of the coalition forces, represented by the UAE forces."
"He added : "The closure of the airport for more than two years, makes no sense, and there are no objective reasons to do so, only harm the sick and disabled people of the city of Mukalla and neighboring cities," who are forced to travel by road to Sayoun and the city of Aden, and from there travel abroad.
Rashed stressed that "the continued closure of the airport without any justification, despite its operational and technical readiness to receive flights cause the killing of life."
Yemen has been devastated by a five-year armed conflict by the government backed by the coalition and the Iran-backed Houthis.
More than 11.000 civilians have been killed and tens of thousands of others injured in the war. Millions have been displaced and tens of thousands have fled outside the country.
The coalition has been responsible for the vast majority of civilian casualties, according to the UN and international human rights organisations.
The conflict has caused what the United Nations calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis.
More than 24 million people, more than 80% of the country's population, are in need some form of humanitarian or protection assistance, including 8.4 million people who don't know where their next meal will come from, according to the UN.
And there are nearly 2 million children suffering from acute malnutrition, the UN said.
