UAE brings stability back to life in Aden

Aden’s police stations were all shut down during the battles, and some were damaged, leading the Emirates to offer the equipment and training needed for them to reopen.

Yemeni boys play in the Crater district of the the southern Yemeni port city of Aden on September 4, 2015. Saleh Al Obeidi/AFP Photo

ADEN // Five police stations in Aden were reopened this week in another sign of life in the southern Yemeni city slowly returning to normal with support from the UAE.

“We are working shoulder to shoulder with the Emirates to reopen the police stations in Aden and provide these stations with all the necessary equipment, and also train the staff,” said Yemen army Brigadier Mohammed Mosaed, the director of security in Aden. “There are five police stations already reopened this week.”

Months of fighting to repel a Houthi rebel attack destroyed much of Aden’s infrastructure and civic services, but the UAE, as part of the pro-government coalition led by Saudi Arabia, has played a key role in the liberation and rebuilding of the city.

All of Aden’s police stations were shut down during the battles, and some were damaged, leading the Emirates to offer the equipment and training needed for them to reopen.

The five police stations reopened so far are the Sheikh Othman station, Al Cairo station, Khor Maksar station, Crater station and Al Moala station.

A total of 18 police stations will eventually be reopened with the UAE’s assistance in various districts of Aden.

“Some other stations are still under reconstruction and we are working together with our brothers in the Emirates to train the employees. Then we will reopen these police stations as we are working according to a clear plan.”

The UAE is providing the police stations with all their needs, including vehicles, uniforms, weapons, office furniture, stationery, and even food, according to Brig Mosaed.

Dr Mohammed Atiq Al Falahi, secretary general of the Emirates Red Crescent, said the UAE was also rebuilding the office of Aden’s security directorate.

Brig Mosaed said conditions in Aden were stabilising after the UAE undertook the responsibility of rebuilding the police stations and the security force.

A team of Emirati policemen is currently training a group of Yemeni police in Aden. Some forces have also been sent to the UAE for training.

“There are 310 soldiers and policemen from Aden’s security who returned from the Emirates last week after they were trained in the UAE, and they are now working in the police stations of Aden,” Brig Mosaed said.

After the return of the first group of security forces last week, Aden’s security directorate sent another batch of 310 soldiers for training in the UAE so that they can be redeployed in Aden, where they used to work.

As head of Aden’s security, Brig Mosaed is responsible for selecting the trainees who go to the UAE. He said they were chosen from different departments – including the police force, building guards and traffic department – according to their qualifications.

“We are planning to send 2,000 policemen and soldiers for training in the UAE from Aden’s security forces, and also we are planning to send members of the Resistance for training in the Emirates to integrate them into the armed forces of Aden,” Brig Mosaed said.

The Yemeni government is currently unable to pay the salaries of the security forces and relying on the UAE and Saudi Arabia to pay them, as well as other state employees, added Brig Mosaed.