SANA’A, Aug. 7 – Hodeida and Mokha harbors regained commercial activity after a halt. Vessels moved to Djibouti Harbor and Salala Harbor in Oman, but they have started returning to the Hodeida and Mokha harbors.

Fourteen vessels and oil tankers unloaded approximately 63,512 tons of oil, iron metal, cars, goats and containers.

According to a report issued by the Yemen Red Sea Ports Corporation, six vessels unloaded approximately 5,936 tons of roll iron, 358 cars and 241 containers.

 The report found that Mokha Harbor received two oil tankers, loaded with 3,324 tons of diesel and 3,902 tons of gasoline. Moreover, a ship loaded with 4,567 goats and cows arrived at the port.

The port in Hodeida has seen a decrease in its infrastructure and services, which prompted ships and vessels to move to Djibouti and Salala harbors.

Mohammed Salah, deputy of the Sana’a Commercial Chamber, said the Yemen Red Sea Ports Corporation turns a blind eye to deterioration in Hodeida’s port.

He said the Yemeni private sector sustained heavy losses after ships and vessels moved for more than one month. This caused the expiration of many good, later destroyed by the Yemeni Specifications and Standardization Authority.

He urged the government to support the Hodeida port and to work to develop it so it becomes a main port for receiving ships and oil tankers.

Salah said the continuance of deterioration in Hodeida port indicates a real economic catastrophe affecting not only the Yemeni private sector but also Yemen’s economy in general—an economy undergoing difficulties, particularly after last year’s uprising.

Salah accused the Yemen Red Sea Ports Corporation of destroying the Hodeida port. He said concerned bodies were contacted to solve the problem, but they paid no attention. This means Yemen’s economic and the private sector will continue to sustain losses unless urgent great efforts are exerted to save the ports.

The Yemeni Specifications and Standardization Authority destroyed thousands of tons of food rations, flour and dates because they were inedible and expired.

Destroying goods raised a problem between the private sector and the authority. Private sector traders asserted that these goods were imported according to the required specifications, but they expired because they were delayed for more than a year in the harbors, causing bankruptcy for several businessmen.