Yemeni businesses relieved as internet restored after weeks

Internet was cut to much of Yemen in January after two cables were damaged

An internet cafe empty of customers due to Internet service cut sin Yemen. EPA

Local businesses have expressed their delight as the internet is restored to Yemen after a weeks-long cut caused by damage to two offshore cables.

Internet service has mostly returned to normal levels in recent days after 80 per cent cuts in the country, which also affected Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Sudan and Ethiopia.

The offshore cables are thought to have been cut by an anchors on January 9.

Aden internet cafe owner Muneer Mohammed said he was overjoyed that he could reopen his shop.

“Alhamdulillah, the internet is back," Mr Mohammed said. "I feel as happy as if I was opening my cafe for the first time.

“The internet cut was such a disaster for me. My life went upside down. The connection is the artery of my business and I had to pay the rent while the cafe was shut."

Internet service has mostly returned to normal in recent days.

“I hope such cuts won’t happen again," Mr Mohammed said. "I will keep working day and night to cover the expenses and pay the rent of the current month."

Thousands of Yemenis have struggled to carry out tasks for work and their personal lives due to the cuts, which affected much of the country.

Yasmin, 32, who is from Al Mualla city in Aden and sells home-made cosmetics online, said the return of the internet connection has brought her small business back to life.

“I had such a hard experience trying to sell my products in the mall stores," she said.

"All my customers follow me online so it was really difficult for me to sell. My sales dropped sharply and I desperately struggled to communicate with my customers."

TeleYemen, Yemen's main internet provider, said last Thursday that 70 per cent of the internet connection has been restored as the technical team completed the early stages of repairs to the Falcon submarine international cable.