The number of the Rift Valley Fever victims in Hodeidah has shot up frighteningly during this week. 95 people died in the governorate of Hodeidah and the Yemeni-Saudi border areas especially “Harradh”.
Sources from the governorate of Hodeidah have said that the number of dead people in Moor Valley had approached 60 while other places like “Ubad”, “Kudmah”, “Zuhair”,”Mahal Manih”, “Budilah”, and “ Al Marawidh” have become completely infected. Other neighboring areas are somewhat semi-infected now, as well.
The sources added that hundreds of cattle had expired due to the disease especially in the “Zuhra” region, which was hugely infected with the disease.
Starting from today, Monday 25th September, it is expected that Saudi airplanes will spray chemicals to overcome the disease in the border region. Meanwhile there are fifty ground teams accompanied by Dr. Abdu Alwali Nasher the minister of health and Mr. Ahmed Salem Al Jabali, minister of Agriculture, in the area exerting large efforts in this regard.
Reports from other villagers in the governorate indicate that the disease has reached their areas. Meantime efforts to control the disease are inefficient, they said.
What is worse is that these days there are heavy winds which help spread the virus especially that thousands of mosquitoes are swarming that region due to humidity and rain.
Official statements until last night pointed out that 24 deaths occurred whereas the sources of field teams said that there had been more than 95 cases.
Great fear has prevailed in those areas especially that the spraying process has not exceeded the infected areas. And until now, a regional belt around those areas has not been put to action. Some of the citizens of the unaffected areas in “Zuhra” and others have complained that they have no more source of income after the death of about two thirds of their cattle.

The rift valley fever disease started spreading in districts nearby Hodeidah. Al-Zuhrah district has been reported to be an infected area. Appearance of the disease started in southern areas of Saudi Arabia, then moved to Harad, Abss and to Al-Zuhrah. A Yemeni medical team headed by the health director in Hodeidah and another medical vet team rushed to the area to work for containing the disease. About 40 cars sprayed insecticide in areas where mosquitoes are found.
Official sources say that the disease has claimed lives of 23 persons while other local sources indicate that the number is more than 95. They indicated that most of them died and were buried before medical teams arrival in the districts.
YT visited the areas where the disease spread in Harad, Ebss and Al-Zuhrah district. Yemeni medical teams seem to be helpless to contain the disease. Their activities were restricted to spraying insecticide on swamps. The people are very upset asserting that they had already informed the authorities and complained about the symptoms of the disease in their districts a long time ago. However, authorities concerned did not respond positively. In Al-Zuhrah hospital, we saw three cases while other cases are reported to have died last Friday.
Ali Shajri, 38, from Abad village, said he suffered from strong diarrhea with bleeding and that he felt a strong headache and high fever. While Abdu Hajori, patient in hospital, said he threw up blood and that he felt dizzy and confused sight.
Mr. Mohammed Hadi, from Abad village, said that 7 persons and 20 sheep died in the village. He said that 20 sheep were buried quickly so as to contain the disease. Another 10 persons died in a neighboring village, he added. He indicated that the disease is more rampant in al-Kadmah, al-Merdak, Bajilah and that symptoms of the disease started to appear in Dir Eyssa near hodeidah.
In Al-Zuhrah village, we met with sheikh of the village Dr. Hassan Taher, MP, who said “The disease needs strong and hard efforts to contain it. Ministers of Health and Agriculture have rushed to the area and medical teams are working in the field.”
Rift valley fever is a strange disease and is reported to be the first time to spread in Yemen. As for symptoms of the disease, ways of protection, we talked to Dr. Mohammed Salem Noman, teacher and assistant Heart Dep. Sana’a University who said “It is a viral disease that affects animals or humans and leads to bleeding.
It first appeared in Kenya in 1931 and then in some African countries. In 1993 death toll had risen to about 600 besides tens of thousands of animals. Therefore, the disease is originally from Africa and is communicated by mosquitoes which carry the disease to animals and to humans as well.
As for disease symptoms, he said “The patient feels fever, headache, and pain in limbs and muscles. He does not see properly. Some patients throw up and suffer from diarrhea. The good thing is that 95% of these cases recover from the disease. However, 5% of these cases suffer from some repercussions that may result in hepaptosia, lienitis, kidney problems and blood bleeding. Red spots are seen on the skin of the patient as a result of bleeding. Central nerve system may also be affected. The patient may suffer from paresis and lose sight completely.
For protection, he said “Sheep died of this disease should be burnt as disease can be transferred to other creatures. Mosquitoes should also be fought by spraying swamps with insecticide. Doctors and nurses should use masks”
Worth mentioning is that in Wadi Moor villages are more than 150 thousand people, all of whom are working in pasturing and sheep trade to the neighboring countries. New military check-points were set up in Al-Zuhrah district and neighboring villages to prevent the spread of meat or milk to Hodeidah or neighboring markets.
Yemeni medical spraying teams are loitering around waiting for modern spraying teams from Saudi Arabia to come.

A leading official from the ruling People’s General Congress (PGC) Party has dismissed the idea of taking a decision on dissolving the Yemeni Socialist Party (YSP), describing it as unthinkable despite the fact that the YSP’S general congress had effected justifications for dissolving it as it had elected to its leadership the leaders of secession.
Member of parliament Sultan Al-Barakani , member of the PGC Permanent Committee, the chairman of the ruling party parliamentary bloc has stressed in a press statement that any measure for dissolving the party is unthinkable at present. He added that ‘’ we are still of the opinion that members of the YSP have not had in their minds to antagonize all the Yemeni people’s segments when they had re-elected the symbols of secession to the party’s leadership.’’
Mr Al-Barakani confirmed that return of former vice-president Ali Salem Al-Biedh, Hayder Al-Attas, premier of the first government of the unity state and others to membership of the Socialist central committee as a challenge to the will of the Yemeni people. He thought it would have been better for the party to issue a decision abandoning them, had it wanted to establish close relationship with the inside. But he said dissolving the YSP was inconceivable and ‘’ we want it to be there and pray it would resort to reason and raise to the level of hopes.’’
Mr Barakani denied knowledge about the leaflet distributed last week, clarifying that a committee grouping politicians and jurists are studying the decisions issued by the YSP conference. He has made it clear that the committee would most likely recommend dissolution of the party because of its decision of re-electing the leaders of the secession.
On his part Mr Abdul Malik Al-Mikhlafi, secretary-general of the Nasserite Unionist Organization told Yemen Times that the call for dissolving a legitimate party would mean that there are some who think with a totalitarian mentality. Mr Al-Mikhlafi remarked that the leaflet distributed last week depicted a sort of political comedy practiced inside the country and should not be taken seriously.
Secretary-General of the YSP Ali Saleh Ubad described leaking such statements as “a kind of media leaks from political kitchens of the authority’’, adding that they were merely expressing Yemeni decision-makers anger towards the big success the YSP had achieved in its 4th congress.

Chairman of Al-Shoura council of Al-Islah party, Sheikh Abdulmajeed al-Zindani has launched a vehement campaign against those demanding girls recruitment, registration and admission of which began early this month in the wake of Interior Ministry announcement. Zindani has said that that call would open the door before corruption of values and manners and would bring back to mind tragedies that took place in the south before unity. Addressing worshippers in his Friday prayer sermon at Al-Eyman University, Al-Zindani added that there were fears of woman recruits mixing with their male counterparts and the kind of indecent uniform they had to put on.

A 4-member ad hoc parliamentary committee was formed last Tuesday to investigate into closure of Mosaab School by Sheikh Naji Al-Hardi last Sunday. The committee which included Mr. Abdulquddous Abdullah Al-Aanisi, Mr. Abdu Hashem Al-Alawi, Sheikh Hizam Abdullah Assaer and Sheikh Abd Abdullah Badraddin, said the remaining land of the school was unfenced which lured many people to claim ownership over it, urging Minister of Education and Secretary of the Capital Secretariat to fence the open yard of the school. In addition, the committee suggested the appearance of Ministers of Interior and Education and Secretary of the Secretariat Capital in the parliament to clarify what had happened.
For his part, Sheikh Naji Al-Hardi told the Yemen Times that he bought the land 20 years ago and that he had the documents to prove his stand.
After a visit to the school, the Yemen Times came to know that the school was built 12 years ago depending on people’s own efforts. In 1984 a plan for the school was issued by the Sana’a city office. The school was also registered with the Ministries of Education and Municipality and Land Authority.
Presently, the school is surrounded by six houses five of which have been built in the yard of the school
In a telephone conversation with one of the committee members he said that the report they had presented to the parliament was not sufficient, indicating that other people were involved in the case.
A reliable source at the Ministry of Education said that a number of houses were built in the yard of the school but no actions were taken by people in charge who seemed to be unaware of the uncertain future of 1500 students as far as none of their children were studying there.
On the other hand, Mrs. Sameerah Al-Hindi, Principal of Assalam girl school, said that MP Ayedh Yahia Ayedh broke into the school and cut the electricity supply to the school.
Mr. Ayedh has already denied that, saying what he had done was directed by Sana’a Educational Office to build more boy classes to meet the urgent needs of the area.
The Syndicate of Educational Professions has condemned the action of the MP demanding depriving him of his parliamentary immunity.
In a telephone conversation with one of the committee members he said that the report they had presented to the parliament was not sufficient, indicating that other people were involved in the case.
A reliable source at the Ministry of Education said that a number of houses were built in the yard of the school but no actions were taken by people in charge who seemed to be unaware of the uncertain future of 1500 students as far as none of their children were studying there.
On the other hand, Mrs. Sameerah Al-Hindi, Principal of Assalam girl school, said that MP Ayedh Yahia Ayedh broke into the school and cut the electricity supply to the school.
Mr. Ayedh has already denied that, saying what he had done was directed by Sana’a Educational Office to build more boy classes to meet the urgent needs of the area.
The Syndicate of Educational Professions has condemned the action of the MP demanding depriving him of his parliamentary immunity.