The British Embassy in Sanaa is financing and implementing a number of projects in the field of human rights in 1999. Two 2-week training sessions for judges and other people involved in the judicial process on human rights, national and International laws and their applications in the courtroom are scheduled for February/March 1999.
The aim is to increase awareness of human rights and the roles of those involved in the judicial process.

 

Under the title "Immigrants are a major support for sustained development," the Consultative Council and the Ministry of Immigrants' Affairs, are planning a conference to be held over the coming few days.
The aim of the conference is to highlight the difficulties and problems of immigrants. It will also stress the importance of the role immigrants' role in the development of the country.

 

The Health Educational Center is hosting Dr. Qais Mohammed Ghanim. He is on a visit to Yemen on an invitation extended to him by the Ministry of Health. Dr. Ghanim is a neurologist residing in Canada.
On the occasion of his visit, the charity clinic at the Health Educational Center will organize a free check up, which will be conducted by Dr. Ghanim, during the period 8 - 17 Feb. from 5 PM- 8 PM at the center's clinic.

 

A team of 11 doctors from the University of Western Ontario, Canada, is visiting the country for a period of two weeks. This is the third visit. The first visit was in 1986, and the second was last year. The purpose of this visit is to hold the Second Yemeni-Canadian Medical Conference at Al-Thawra Hospital on 13-14 February. The team will provide medical examination to patients. Seven specialists in gynecology, neurology and community health make up the team. They will perform operations at Al-Thawra, Sabeen and Kuwait hospitals.

 

The Environmental Protection Council and Climate Change Project will hold their Second National Workshop on Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Assessment in Yemen. During 9-10 February, at the University of Sana'a, at Ali Bin Ziad's Hall, Faculty of Agriculture. Different presentations by Team Coordinators will be the main item on the first day of the program. On the second day, the Workshop will discuss many issues such as water resources, coastal zone management and socio-economic issues.

 

The Project of Involving Women in Social and Economical Development (PIWSED), in collaboration with UNFPA is organizing a workshop for small projects, during 8 Feb.-1 March 1999. The workshop will be conducted by a Yemeni expert in the field of small projects. Twenty participants representing different organizations (government and NGOs) will get first hand information on how to plan, evaluate, administrate and finance small projects.

 

The Minister of Planing and Development Mr. Ahmed Mohammed Sofan and H. E. Mr. Andre Janier the French Ambassador to Sana'a has signed an agreement to use the returns of the French Government food aid, which was extended to Yemen in 1997.
The returns of YR 116,806,900 will be used in financing eight different projects to support and improve the food production process in Yemen. The money will be used for building dams, water tanks, and to finance stage two of the refurbishing of the fish storehouse at Hodieda's fishing port.

 

The Embassy of Japan supports the Sanaa Juvenile Reformatory in the improvement of its services for disadvantaged children in the framework of the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects aimed at supporting small-scale community-based projects. An agreement to this effect was signed on January 28, 1999 by the Director General of the Sanaa Juvenile Reformatory and the Japanese ambassador to Yemen. This grant will enable the recipient to purchase a 4WD vehicle for the purpose of enhancing its social/development activities.

 

The Ministry of Electricity and Water has signed a memorandum of understanding with the delegation of the Ministry of Economics of Hessen state (Germany), visiting the country. According to the memorandum, the German side will help its Yemeni counterparts use wind and solar energy to produce electrical power, by forming a special body, and providing German experts to work with the Yemeni specialists. A workshop will be held during the first quarter of 1999. The location of the power station has not yet been decided. A proposal to locate the power station in Al-Mukha district will be studied by the German delegation. Al-Mukha is seen as a suitable location for building the power station. The Germans will also train Yemeni cadres.

 

The Yemeni Red Crescent Society(YRCS) held its 8th conference at Dar Al-Hikma, under the title "Development for lessening mankind's sufferings." More than 100 representatives of YRCS from all over the country participated. In the second day of the conference, elections were held to appoint the new council. The final result of the elections was declared later. Mr. Abdul-Wasie Hail Said, was elected as the new President of the Yemeni Red Crescent Society.

 

The Yemeni Oil minister Mr. Mohammed Khadim Al-Wajeh and the visiting Eritrean delegation headed by Mr. Saleh Kikea, minister of Communication and Transport had discussed the possibility of exporting Yemeni gas to Eritrea. Mr. Kikea expressed his country's willingness to import Yemeni gas. "This would be one more step to enrich our relationship," said Mr. Saleh.
A delegation from the Aden Refinery is visiting Eritrea, finalizing preperation of the proposal.

 

Last Saturday 6th Feb. at the residence of Mr. Amin Derham Vice-chairman of the Yemeni - German Friendship Association (YGFA). The YGFA organized a gathering, in honor of the German Ambassador H. E. Dr. Helga Strachwitz, on the occasion of the termination of her mission as the German Ambassador to the Republic of Yemen. Many government officials and prominent members of Yemeni society were invited. Delightful Yemeni music, and songs were sung by the famous Yemeni singer Ihab Turky, which were appreciated and by everyone.