Activists in the Yemeni southern provinces have launched a campaign on social media calling on the United Nations to pressure the Saudi-led coalition to open the Al-Rayyan and Al-Ghaydah airports in Hadhramaut in Mahrah provinces.
Activists described the continued closure of Al-Rayyan Airport in Hadhramaut by the UAE, which has been using it as a military base, as “insolence and lack of modesty.”
Abdullah Badbian, Legal Adviser and Head of Insaf Legal Club as well as a member of Amnesty International, said that the continued closure of Al-Rayyan Airport is “illogical and humanitarian, regardless of the reasons and justifications.”
Activist Shefaa Al-Nasser asked after the opening of Sana’a Airport, saying: “What about Al-Rayyan airport, which has been closed to local and international flights for 6 years?”
Activist Ahmed al-Awadi said: “Al-Rayyan Airport, Al-Ghaydah Airport, and Balhaf Port will not open unless Yemenis are united in their hearts as one.”
Activist Muhammad Saif al-Jalal also called on the sons of Mahrah to demonstrate in front of Al-Ghaydah Airport as an expression of rejection of the foreign presence, and to demand the reopening of the airport.
The Saudi-led coalition imposed its military control over Al-Ghaydah Airport, located on the Arabian Sea, at the end of 2017, turning the airport into a joint British-American-Israeli military base.
