Yemen Monitor/Cairo/Agencies:
Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad Al-Alimi stated on Monday that the direct losses of the war in the country could rise to $657 billion by 2030, according to estimates by the United Nations Development Programme, if the war continues.
Al-Alimi made these remarks during the “World Urban Forum”, which kicked off on Monday in the Egyptian capital, Cairo.
Al-Alimi explained that “the losses of the Yemeni economy and urban cities are doubling day after day as a result of this imposed war on the Yemeni people, and could rise, according to estimates by the United Nations Development Programme, to $657 billion by 2030 if the war continues and the Houthi group does not respond to the call for peace and the requirements for restoring the development path.”
He added, “In terms of numbers, estimates indicate that the services of Yemeni cities and urban areas have been damaged by 49% of the assets of the energy sector and 38% of the water and sanitation sector, in addition to very costly damage to the internal road network and assets of the communications sector, while the housing sector has been severely damaged and about 16 Yemeni cities have been set back decades.”
The Yemeni president indicated that the war caused by the Houthis “has led to massive destruction in the infrastructure and basic services sectors, primarily electricity, roads, transportation lines, ports, airports, bridges, factories, and commercial facilities.”
Yemen has been facing financial pressures and difficulties as a result of the halt in oil revenues, which account for 70% of the country’s revenues, since two years ago following the targeting of export ports by the Houthi group in late 2022 and the halt of most foreign aid and foreign investments and tourism revenues.
Al-Alimi pointed to “the complex structural and financial challenges facing the Yemeni government in confronting climate change, which has compounded the burdens of emergency interventions.”
He stated that the strong cyclones that Yemen has witnessed in recent years have caused widespread destruction, including floods, landslides, and damage to infrastructure and homes.
Al-Alimi said that between April and August 2024, “for example, flash floods left dozens dead, more than 100,000 displaced, and losses in infrastructure and agricultural holdings estimated at about $350 million.”
Yemen has been suffering from a nearly decade-long power struggle between the internationally recognized government supported by a Saudi-led military coalition and the Houthi group supported by Iran, leading to the world’s largest humanitarian crisis according to the United Nations.
