Armed Yemeni tribesmen from the Awlaki tribe, the largest clan in Shabwa province, gather on February 19. Photo: AFP
Armed Yemeni tribesmen from the Awlaki tribe, the largest clan in Shabwa province, gather on February 19. Photo: AFP
Armed Yemeni tribesmen from the Awlaki tribe, the largest clan in Shabwa province, gather on February 19. Photo: AFP
Armed Yemeni tribesmen from the Awlaki tribe, the largest clan in Shabwa province, gather on February 19. Photo: AFP

Southern Yemeni forces sent to drive Houthis from oil-rich Shabwa province


Ali Mahmood
  • English
  • Arabic

The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen has sent hundreds of fighters to the oil-rich, south-eastern province of Shabwa to retake three districts that fell to the Iran-backed Houthis in September.

“Hundreds of troops were mobilised from the southern territories to liberate the western districts of Bayhan, Ain and Ousaiylan in Shabwa,” a military commander told The National.

The three districts are home to some of the most productive oil sites in southern Yemen.

The units include troops from Al Amalikah forces, which have been fighting the Houthis in the western coast. Other forces under the command of the Southern Transitional Council are involved.

A large military campaign is expected to begin soon.

The move came two days after President Abdrabu Mansur Hadi dismissed the province's governor, accusing him of corruption and mismanagement. Mohammed bin Aydo belongs to Al Islah party.

Mr Hadi appointed Sheikh Awadh Mohammed Alaulaki, a prominent tribal leader, as Shabwa's new governor.

Protests had erupted in the province demanding Mr bin Aydo’s dismissal. Demonstrators accused him of abusing power and handing over the province’s resources to his party.

“We welcomed the decision to appoint Sheikh Awadh Alaulaki as a new governor for Shabwa and we will support him to deal with all the issues that had accumulated in the province in the last couple of years” Ali Al Katheri, a spokesman for the Southern Transitional Council told The National.

Celta Vigo 2
Castro (45'), Aspas (82')

Barcelona 2
Dembele (36'), Alcacer (64')

Red card: Sergi Roberto (Barcelona)

Conflict, drought, famine

Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.

Band Aid

Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.

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MATCH INFO

Barcelona 2
Suarez (10'), Messi (52')

Real Madrid 2
Ronaldo (14'), Bale (72')

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

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Why does a queen bee feast only on royal jelly?

Some facts about bees:

The queen bee eats only royal jelly, an extraordinary food created by worker bees so she lives much longer

The life cycle of a worker bee is from 40-60 days

A queen bee lives for 3-5 years

This allows her to lay millions of eggs and allows the continuity of the bee colony

About 20,000 honey bees and one queen populate each hive

Honey is packed with vital vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water and anti-oxidants.

Apart from honey, five other products are royal jelly, the special food bees feed their queen 

Pollen is their protein source, a super food that is nutritious, rich in amino acids

Beewax is used to construct the combs. Due to its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial elements, it is used in skin treatments

Propolis, a resin-like material produced by bees is used to make hives. It has natural antibiotic qualities so works to sterilize hive,  protects from disease, keeps their home free from germs. Also used to treat sores, infection, warts

Bee venom is used by bees to protect themselves. Has anti-inflammatory properties, sometimes used to relieve conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, nerve and muscle pain

Honey, royal jelly, pollen have health enhancing qualities

The other three products are used for therapeutic purposes

Is beekeeping dangerous?

As long as you deal with bees gently, you will be safe, says Mohammed Al Najeh, who has worked with bees since he was a boy.

“The biggest mistake people make is they panic when they see a bee. They are small but smart creatures. If you move your hand quickly to hit the bees, this is an aggressive action and bees will defend themselves. They can sense the adrenalin in our body. But if we are calm, they are move away.”

 

 

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Updated: December 28, 2021, 6:54 PM`