ADEN // Yemeni government ministers on Thursday held their first meeting after returning to Yemen the day before.
Forced to flee an offensive by Houthi rebels and their allies last March, the government had operated from Riyadh for nearly six months.
Prime minister Khalid Bahah chaired Thursday's meeting in the southern city of Aden, which was attended by representatives from Aden's utility offices - including water and sewage, the postal service, electricity, and oil - and local security officials.
Mr Bahah said that while pro-government fighters had tried to restore security to Aden after the Houthi's removal from the city, the government would now resume responsibility for this role.
"The positive step in the security side is that most of the police stations in Aden were rehabilitated and one of the government's priorities are to solve the problem of the security situation," Mr Bahah said.
In response to a question from The National about the possibility of negotiations between the government and the rebels, Mr Bahah said: "There will not be any negotiation before" the government reclaims the country.
He also said that the government would remain in Aden, though president Abdrabu Mansur Hadi was still outside the country in Riyadh.
"The government is working to resume regular life [in the city] gradually, however this needs more time," he said.
Fadhl Al Rabei, a political analyst and the head of Madar Strategic Studies Center in Aden, said he supported the government's decision not to negotiate with the rebels until they withdraw from areas they captured.
The government has insisted that the Houthis must agree to implement United Nations security council resolution 2216 before talks can be held, which would see the rebels quit cities they have seized since September 2014.
"I hope that the government goes towards recapturing the country by using force and in the same time trying to solve the problem of the Houthis," Mr Al Rabei said.
However, he also said that Yemenis cannot wait for the government - backed by a Saudi Arabia-led military coalition, which includes the UAE - to subdue the Houthis before providing basic goods and services.
"If the residents get the basic services, they will feel that there is a government that takes care of them. If they don't, most of the residents will be opponents of the government," Mr Al Rabie said.
While food and medical supplies have been delivered to Aden, residents sill lack basic services such as hospitals, schools, and regular electricity.
Also on Thursday, Mubarak Saeed Ghafan Al Jaberi, the UAE's special envoy to Yemen, met with Mr Bahah and other Yemeni ministers.
Mr Bahah praised the UAE's assistance in liberating Aden last July from the Houthis, along with Emirati efforts to free other areas from the Houthis.
The UAE envoy congratulated Mr Bahah and the other government ministers on their return to Yemen. He said that mutual cooperation between Yemen and the UAE would increase, with the aim of restoring security and stability to Aden and the rest of the country.
Late on Wednesday, the United Sates, which is part of the coalition fighting the Houthis, announced over US$89 million (Dh326.9m) in new humanitarian aid for Yemen.
The conflict has killed more than 4,500 people over nearly six months.
foreign.desk@thenational.ae
* With additional reporting from Wam, Agence France-Presse
Yemen ministers hold first meeting after return from exile
Prime minister Khalid Bahah chaired Thursday's meeting in the southern port city of Aden after the government returned from Riyadh after nearly six months.
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