Yemen: Lahj Drowns in Darkness... and Residents Demand Urgent Rescue

Arab Sea Newspaper - Follow-ups:

For the third week in a row, the directorates of Al-Houta and Tuban in Lahj Governorate continue to be plunged into complete darkness as a result of the complete shutdown of the Abbas and Tuban power generation stations due to the depletion of diesel fuel, amid complete silence from the local authority and the total disappearance of any action from the governor or relevant government agencies. Residents are living in tragic living conditions that are worsening day by day, as citizens confirmed that the electricity crisis is no longer just a power outage, but has turned into a humanitarian disaster that has deprived thousands of families of access to drinking water and domestic use, as a result of the shutdown of electric pumps on which most homes depend. Residents complain about being forced to buy water tankers (booz) at prices that burden them in light of a deteriorating economic situation and the absence of any government support, while other governorates are moving towards adopting alternative solutions such as solar energy systems, at a time when Lahj has been left to its fate. Residents described the local authority's handling of the crisis as "deliberate neglect," accusing the leaders of procrastination and making formal promises that do not find their way to implementation, stressing that all their attempts to make their voices heard have failed. The residents called on the Presidential Council, the government, international organizations, and donors to quickly intervene to end the crisis by securing a permanent supply of diesel fuel to the power generation stations and accelerating the implementation of the 30-megawatt solar power plant project, which is still confined to statements.