The Occupied Provinces: A Catastrophic Situation Fueled by the Saudi-Emirati Occupation

The people of Yemen’s southern and eastern provinces are living under extreme hardship as a result of the worsening security, economic, and humanitarian conditions caused by the destructive policies of the Saudi-Emirati occupation and its local proxies.

The economic collapse, the unprecedented deterioration of basic services, and the deepening electricity crisis in the occupied areas all serve as undeniable proof of the complete failure of the Saudi-Emirati occupation and its tools to bring any meaningful improvement to the economic and living conditions. The suffering of citizens in the occupied provinces has reached dangerous levels, with no sign of relief in sight.

The ongoing conflict between Saudi Arabia and the UAE over control of strategic locations in the occupied provinces has exposed the true objectives and sinister agendas of these new occupiers. The promises they made to improve conditions have proven to be nothing more than empty words.

The monopolization of the wealth and resources of the southern and eastern provinces by the Saudi-Emirati coalition and its local factions has only intensified the crisis. This has led to widespread public outrage, as citizens have taken to the streets in mass protests to condemn the occupation’s interference and the worsening state of public services. At the same time, they are voicing their frustration over the economic decline, the rising cost of living, and the collapse of the local currency, which has plummeted to over 2,300 riyals per U.S. dollar.

This state of unrest is no coincidence; rather, it is the direct result of the Saudi-Emirati occupiers’ deliberate and systematic policies aimed at paralyzing public institutions, preventing them from fulfilling their roles and exacerbating the suffering of the population. Their actions have deepened the humanitarian crisis, affecting all sectors of society.

The continued protests in Aden and other occupied provinces against the so-called “legitimate government” reflect the utter failure of the occupation and its local tools to address the humanitarian crisis. They also highlight the disastrous consequences of the occupation over the past ten years. The complete inability of state institutions to function and the ongoing power outages in Aden serve as stark evidence of the dire reality in the occupied territories.

The conflicting interests and destructive projects of the Saudi-Emirati occupation in the occupied provinces, along with their ongoing efforts to divide influence through their local agents, have only reinforced the people’s conviction regarding the dangerous objectives pursued by Riyadh and Abu Dhabi—objectives that have now become apparent to all.

The widespread protests, unrest, and instability gripping the southern and eastern provinces make it clear that the presence of the Saudi-Emirati occupation is now only a matter of time. The liberation of these provinces has become an inevitable necessity—one that concerns all free Yemenis across the north, south, east, and west.

Just as the Yemeni people succeeded in driving out British colonial rule from the southern provinces sixty years ago, they are fully capable today of forcing the new occupiers to leave. Now, with Yemen possessing a deterrent force that has enabled it to confront global hegemonic powers led by the United States, Britain, and  the Israeli entity—along with their regional proxies—the expulsion of the Saudi-Emirati occupation is only a matter of time.