The last day of the deal.. 196 detainees were transferred between Sana'a and Ma'rib

English - Sunday 16 April 2023 الساعة 10:27 pm
Aden, NewsYemen, exclusive:

Aircraft of the International Committee of the Red Cross continued the process of transferring detainees between the Yemeni government and the Houthi militia, Iran's arm in Yemen, on Sunday, the last day of the prisoner exchange agreement announced between the two parties under UN auspices last March.

The committee said in a statement issued on its Twitter page: The releases are still continuing for the third day.  The first plane carrying 48 former detainees from Marib arrived in Sana'a.  Meanwhile, another plane carrying 42 former detainees arrived in Marib from Sana'a.  More flights will follow.

The government delegation stated that today, Sunday, includes the operation of 5 flights between Marib and Sana'a airports, two of which will carry 89 prisoners and abductees from Sana'a, including the four journalists unjustly sentenced to death, while 3 planes will carry 107 Houthi prisoners.

Hundreds of families and relatives of the released, who arrived to receive them after years of absence inside the prisons of the Houthi militia, witnessed the gathering of Tadween airport in Marib.

Among the arrivals on the first flight to Marib Airport are the four journalists sentenced to death: "Abdul Khaleq Omran, Tawfiq Al Mansouri, Harith Hamid, Akram Al Walidi."

In April 2020, the Houthi militia issued, through the Criminal Court under its control, a death sentence against the four journalists, in a precedent that is the first of its kind in the history of the Yemeni press.

"Let's not forget the real purpose of these releases, to reunite loved ones," said ICRC media advisor Jessica Mossan on the last day of the transfer. "The past three days have brought joy to many conflict-torn families. We can only hope."  More releases are expected in the near future.