Yemen and the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD) signed in the Moroccan city of Marrakech an agreement whereby the Fund granted Yemen $65 million aimed to bolster the Gulf poor state power sector, which has been severely hit during the past months. ‏
The donation will be devoted to financing Al-Maka wind-run Electricity Station that will have a total capacity of 60 Megawatt. The new station is expected to cover the deficiency in the power due to the persistent attacks. The agreement was signed by the AFESD general director Dr. Yousif al-Hamad, and the Yemeni Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Dr. Mohammed al-Saadi.Meanwhile, the power transmission lines were subjected yet again to sabotage attacks, leaving thousands of households in the Yemeni capital, Sana'a, in total darkness.Since the revolution against ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh in February last year, the electricity supply lines and towers are frequently sabotaged by unidentified assailants. Since the beginning of this month, the lines came under attack more than six times. These sabotage attacks have cost the government millions of dollars, according to the minister of electricity Saleh Sameih who accused Saleh of being behind the attacks early this month.
In addition, the Kuwaiti leader Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah announced that he has granted Yemen millions in financial support.The Kuwaiti donation was revealed during al-Saadi meeting with the Kuwaiti Fund for Arab Economical Development on the sidelines of the Arab Fund institutions conference currently held in Marrakech.It will be devoted to funding small and smaller businesses in the field of food production.