Al-Junaidi and Bin Aziz discuss the repercussions of illegal immigration to Abyan and call for the unification of military forces in the south.

Arabian Sea Newspaper - Exclusive

Abeen ((Arabian Sea)) Special: The Deputy Governor of Abyan Governorate, Sheikh Hussein Ahmed Al-Junaidi, discussed with the Chief of the General Staff of the Yemeni Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Dr. Sagheer bin Aziz, in the interim capital, Aden, the escalating security and humanitarian challenges in the governorate, most notably the risks of illegal immigration from the Horn of Africa, especially from the Ethiopian "Oromo" group. During the meeting, Al-Junaidi stressed the serious dimensions of this phenomenon, which negatively affects security, social peace, and the cultural and health fabric in Abyan. He explained that the continued influx of irregular migrants has contributed to the spread of diseases such as cholera, in addition to endangering the lives of the migrants themselves, especially in light of the repeated drowning incidents off the coast of Abyan. The Deputy Governor also called on the Ministry of Defense, in coordination with the naval forces and relevant international organizations, to intensify efforts to reduce the waves of unorganized migration that burden Abyan and pose a direct threat to its stability. In a related context, Al-Junaidi pointed to the security risks associated with this phenomenon, including the growing activity of smuggling networks, which contribute to destabilizing security, in addition to reports indicating that some migrants are being diverted to areas controlled by the Houthi group for use on the battle fronts. On the other hand, Al-Junaidi called for accelerating the opening and securing of the "Aqabat Thara" road for humanitarian reasons, with the aim of facilitating the return of the displaced to their areas, stressing at the end of his speech the need to unify all formations of the Southern military forces under the umbrella of the Ministry of Defense to enhance security and military readiness. For his part, Lieutenant General Sagheer bin Aziz affirmed the military leadership's interest in these files and listened attentively to the demands and proposals, stressing the importance of continued coordination between the local authority and the military leadership to address the multiple challenges facing the governorate, promising to study them and take appropriate measures. The meeting is an important milestone to highlight the humanitarian and security challenges in Abyan, in light of the continued influx of irregular migration, and emphasizes the urgent need for a joint national and international move to find sustainable solutions to this crisis.