from NTFO, Sanaa – PDF and text versions below
The Monthly Report on the General Situation in the Republic of Yemen
April-2025
Political Preface
1. Both the United States and the Zionist entity (Israel) continue to commit the most heinous crimes against the Yemeni people by targeting vital civilian infrastructure, such as Ras Issa Terminal, Hodeidah ports, Al-Salif port, and Sana’a International Airport. Moreover, they have targeted civilian homes, a migrant shelter, and popular markets, like the Farwa neighborhood market in Sha’ub district of Sana’a. These crimes, resulting from indiscriminate attacks by both the United States and Israel, are justified under flimsy pretexts, such as the allegation that the targeted facilities are military sites.
2. As is its custom, the United States offers false justifications when it targets residential areas and civilian gatherings, resulting in many casualties. It pretends the same thing when it destroys vital civilian infrastructure. The US falsely alleged that its targeting of citizens’ homes and vital facilities was due to their use for military purposes. This was the same pretext used when its military warplanes and warships targeted the port of Ras Issa. In reality, this port, which is supervised by the United Nations Mission to support the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA), is a vital civilian facility designated for the storage and distribution of oil and gas derivatives to meet the daily needs of the Yemeni people. Furthermore, it serves as the primary and sole gateway for the entry of all humanitarian aid and oil derivatives to Yemen.
3. Numerous international organizations have asserted that the US attack on the port of Ras Issa in Hodeidah constitutes a war crime demanding immediate investigation and accountability. The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor confirmed that the use of force on the port was unlawful. This was echoed by Human Rights Watch, which noted that the US military strikes on the port caused dozens of civilian casualties and inflicted significant damage on its infrastructure. It stressed that the attack must be investigated as a war crime. This sentiment was also reflected in a statement by the UN Secretary-General, who expressed his grave concern over the air strikes carried out by the US on the port and its surroundings.
4. The continued military attacks by the U.S. and the Zionist entity on population centers and civilian facilities have resulted in the killing and injury of hundreds of civilians, the majority of whom are women and children, and the destruction of infrastructure. These attacks are aimed at pressuring the Yemeni Armed Forces in Sana’a to alter their position of solidarity with the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. Despite dozens of US military attacks across various Yemeni regions, they have failed to achieve any military advantage, nor have they weakened the resolve of Yemen’s leadership and people in supporting the Palestinian people. Consequently, they have resorted to other measures and procedures. For instance, the U.S. Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on Yemen International Bank, under the pretext that the bank provides financial support to the Yemeni Armed Forces in Sana’a, which is then used to finance their attacks on military targets within the occupied territories of the Zionist entity.
5. Regrettably, the United Nations and its agencies remain silent and have taken no action regarding the American, British, and Zionist crimes in Yemen. This has emboldened these countries to support the Zionist entity under the guise of protecting the freedom of maritime navigation. In reality, this support aims to provide cover for the continuation of the genocide in Gaza, especially as Yemen keeps on targeting the ships destined for the Zionist entity in response to the crimes of genocide and the siege of Gaza.
The Economic Situation
6. The situation in Yemen witnessed a dangerous escalation during the month of April 2025, driven by the US military attacks that targeted vital economic facilities. These attacks aimed to pressure the Yemeni Armed Forces in Sana’a to cease their support for Gaza. This occurred alongside the deterioration of economic and living conditions in various regions, particularly in the southern governorates under the control of the Saudi-Emirati coalition. This has further exacerbated the suffering of citizens and worsened the fragility of infrastructure and services.
First: U.S. Targeting of Vital Infrastructure
Attack on Ras Issa Port:
7. The US forces launched intensive air raids on Ras Issa oil port in Hodeidah, leading to over 80 killed and 150 injured, and halting all activities at the port. Ras Issa is a major hub for fuel imports with a storage capacity of nearly 3 million barrels. The Red Sea Ports Corporation confirmed that the bombing disrupted navigation and oil supplies, which will compound the fuel crisis. This systematic targeting of Hodeida’s ports by the US and Israel is part of a strategy to weaken economic capabilities and impose wide-ranging US influence over the ports and the maritime region, through which 70% of Yemen’s imports and 80% of its humanitarian aid pass.
Environmental Disaster in the Red Sea:
8. The Ministry of Agriculture & Environment in Sana’a has warned of an imminent environmental disaster resulting from a large-scale oil spill following the US bombing of Ras Issa port, which in turn threatens marine life and fish stocks. The Ministry also condemned the targeting of Kamaran Island as this poses an additional threat to the ecosystem.
Second: Economic Blockade as a Tool of Sanctions
9. In a new escalatory step against the Yemeni economy, the US Department of the Treasury announced sanctions on “Yemen International Bank,” one of the country’s most prominent commercial banks. This move comes in an attempt to pressure the banking sector in areas under the control of the Sana’a government, following Washington’s failure to relocate the headquarters of banks to Aden. These sanctions are part of the ongoing US support for the Israeli aggression on Gaza, aimed at halting the operations of the Yemeni Armed Forces against the Zionist entity.
10. The Government of Change and Construction in Sana’a issued a decision banning the entry and circulation of all US products in Yemeni markets. It granted a three-month grace period for various merchants to sell off their remaining stock of previously purchased US products and shift to alternative goods. Furthermore, statistics have revealed a 67.91% decline in US imports to Yemen during 2024 compared to 2022.
Thirdly: Economic Collapse in the Southern Governorates and Its Repercussions
11. The occupied southern governorates have witnessed deepening crises, at the forefront of which is the severe collapse of the local currency, with the exchange rate of the US dollar exceeding 2,600 YER and the Saudi riyal reaching 684 Yemeni riyals. The Central Bank of Aden has announced a freeze on all foreign currency sales and purchases until further notice, amidst a clear failure to control the market, widespread speculation, and a lack of regulatory oversight.
12. The electricity crisis is one of the most prominent facets of the collapse in the occupied southern Yemeni governorates, where the so-called Aden government has failed to find solutions despite repeated promises, amidst the collapse of power generation infrastructure and rampant corruption in the energy sector. The Southern Money Exchangers Syndicate has indicated that the bill for importing electricity alternatives, such as generators, batteries, and solar panels, is a primary factor in the deterioration of the Yemeni riyal’s value, as these are paid for in foreign currency.
13. The economic collapse has pushed numerous sectors to the brink of collapse, most notably the bakery sector in Aden. The price of a 50 kg bag of wheat flour has skyrocketed to around 54,000 YER, compared to just 12,000 YER in Sana’a, leading to the widespread closure of bakeries, particularly those producing traditional bread like Ragheef and Roti. This, in turn, has harmed thousands of families who have lost their source of livelihood and further exacerbating the already dire living conditions.
Fourth: Protests and Rising Public Anger
14. Under the Saudi-Emirati occupation of the southern governorates and amidst the severe deterioration of the local currency and the collapse of services, angry protests have erupted in the occupied southern regions, especially Aden. These protests condemned the collapse of services, the absence of salaries, and the continuation of corruption, as the suffering of the population has become comprehensive, extending from the loss of electricity and water to the inability to purchase food or medicine. The syndicates of the university of Aden, Lahj University, Abyan University, and Shabwa University have held the Saudi-Emirati coalition responsible for the deteriorating conditions.
Fifth: Emirati Ambitions and the Plundering of Resources
15. The Atlas Institute for International Affairs revealed the continued flow of Yemeni gold to the UAE, averaging $173 million annually. This occurs amidst the control of the Emirati company “Thani Dubai” over two of the three active gold mines in Yemen. This is an indicator of the direct Emirati interests in plundering mineral wealth under the cover of investment and the direct occupation of the southern governorates.
Sixth: Smuggling of Yemeni Antiquities and Confiscation of Civilizational Identity
16. The Yemen Tourism Promotion Board (YTPB) and the General Authority for Antiquities and Museums (GAAM) in Sana’a unequivocally condemned the continued smuggling of Yemeni antiquities and their sale abroad. A list of Yemeni artifacts offered at a US auction (liveauctioneers) was published. The YTPB and GAAM called on international bodies to stop these violations, which represent an organized robbery of Yemen’s cultural and historical identity.
Seventh: Government Initiatives in Sana’a to Enhance Electronic Services
17. The Ministry of Economy, Industry, and Investment in Sana’a announced the launch of 46 new electronic services following the completion of their operational trial period. These services include modifying, transferring, or deleting an individual commercial register, extracting data, and canceling a trademark. These electronic services, in addition to 30 pre-existing services, represent a significant step that enhances the government’s digital transformation and facilitates application processes for the private sector and citizens.
The Humanitarian Situation
18. International reports issued by the United Nations indicate that more than 19 million people in Yemen are in desperate need of basic assistance, including food, healthcare, shelter, and clean water. The reports confirm that half the population suffers from acute hunger, while many lack access to sufficient quantities of clean water for drinking and daily use. Despite this catastrophic information, which points to the exacerbation of suffering in Yemen, the US has pressured most international humanitarian organizations operating in the country to halt or reduce their provision of humanitarian aid.
19. Yemeni women and children are among the groups most severely affected by the military operations on Yemen’s seaports and Sana’a International Airport. They are also affected by the comprehensive siege on Yemen and the cessation of aid from humanitarian organizations. As a result, millions of women and children have reached the level of famine, namely, Phase Five of the United Nations’ Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).
20. The prisoners’ file in Yemen continues to face significant obstruction, despite the humanitarian initiatives presented by the National Committee for Prisoners’ Affairs in Sana’a to resolve this issue, viewing it as a humanitarian, not a political, matter. The National Committee has sent local mediators to Marib to offer alternative solutions, and the United Nations—the international body acting as a mediator—is fully aware of the steps taken by the Sana’a government through its committee. However, the other party, backed by the countries of the coalition of war on Yemen, has rejected all proposals and humanitarian initiatives, using this file as a tool for political blackmail, by obstructing any progress on this sensitive humanitarian issue.
Crimes and Violations
21. During this month of April, Yemen witnessed a wave of indiscriminate US-Zionist air raids on a number of vital civilian facilities, residential homes, and population centers. Examples of these attacks include strikes on: Sarf area in Bani Hushaish district; Thaqban area in Bani Al-Harith district; the detention center for African migrants within the reserve prison facilities in Sa’ada; a residential neighborhood in Al-Rawda area of Bani Al-Harith district; the telecommunications network in Majzar district of Sa’ada; a residential neighborhood and the popular Farwa market in Shu’aub district; Majel Al-Demmah cemetery in Al-Safia district; the building of the General Authority for Maritime Affairs at Hodeidah port and the Ras Issa oil port; the buildings of the Vocational Institute in Al-Sawma’ah district; the buildings and hangars of Al-Sawari Ceramic Factory in Bani Matar district; and a citizen’s home and farm in Majzar district. These raids led to the killing and injury of dozens of civilians and the destruction of economic and service infrastructure.
22. Official statistics from the government of Palestine in the Gaza Strip, resulting from the genocide committed by the Israeli occupation over 580 days—from Saturday, October 7, 2023, to Thursday, May 8, 2025—indicate that the Zionist occupation army has committed more than 12,000 massacres. These massacres have resulted in over 52,000 killed, including 18,000 children and 12,400 women, in addition to more than 14,222 missing and 119,264 injured and wounded, 70% of whom are children and women.
Story of the Month
The Child Sarim: A Target for a US Airstrike
The father, Saleh Al-Suhaili, was sitting in his home in Shu’aub district of the capital, Sana’a, sharing laughter with his children. His young son, Sarim, was playing cheerfully around him, and it never crossed the father’s mind that this would be their last time together.
The mother said, “We need a few things to make dinner for the children.”
Saleh left his house, dressed in his pajamas, and walked to the grocery store next door to buy some necessities for his family. Suddenly, a US warplane was roaming around in the skies of Sana’a. While he was in the store, he heard a massive explosion from an airstrike launched by that US warplane. When he came out, he and everyone else who was inside the store witnessed thick smoke and intense flames rising from his home. It had been completely demolished with his entire family inside, including the child, Sarim. Overwhelmed by the horror of what he saw, Saleh rushed to the wreckage of his home, hoping to find someone, anyone, alive. Instead, he was met with the shock of finding his child’s body torn into scattered pieces. He screamed intensely as he saw the scattered remains in the rubble, calling out his young son, “Get up, my little boy, I brought you your dinner…” ” Get up, Sarim. Please, get up.”
Unable to comprehend the horror and scale of the crime, Sarim’s mother lost consciousness and was transferred to the intensive care unit at a hospital.
This tragedy marks yet another horrific crime in the US’s ongoing war on Yemen—an addition to the long list of assaults against civilians and populated cities.
