CAIRO – SABA
Yemen’s Ambassador to the Arab Republic of Egypt Khaled Bahah discussed with the Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs and Egyptians Abroad Ambassador Tamer al-Galaby several issues concerning the Yemeni community residing in Egypt.
Ambassador Bahah addressed various matters related to the Yemeni community, including the situation of Yemeni nationals stranded in the Gaza Strip, which the embassy has been prioritizing since the onset of the brutal Israeli war on the region.
He reiterated the Yemeni government’s request for assistance from their Egyptian counterparts in the evacuation process, in cooperation with their Qatari brothers.
Regarding the issue of Yemeni schools in Egypt, the ambassador noted that the embassy had submitted a request to regularize their status through the relevant authorities in Egypt, seeking the necessary licenses to operate in accordance with the regulations of the host country.
This process was intended to be completed during the 2024/2025 academic year to ensure the continuity of education for the students.
However, they were surprised by the decision to close the schools, which jeopardizes the education of over 6,000 students.
Ambassador Bahah also discussed the sudden rise in the costs of security approvals for arrivals from both inside and outside Yemen, which have reached excessive levels, placing additional burdens on those coming for medical and educational purposes amid the challenging economic conditions faced by the Yemeni people due to the war.
He pointed out to the delays in security approvals for medical fellows and residents, which take a long time and affect the future of the doctors in training.
The meeting also covered the need to expedite the operation of flights between al-Rayyan and Cairo airports to serve the eastern provinces of Yemen, facilitating travel procedures for citizens requiring medical and educational services or transferring to third destinations.
Furthermore, the discussions included the situation of Yemeni prisoners serving sentences in Egyptian jails and the mechanism for their repatriation to complete their sentences in accordance with the prisoner exchange agreement signed between the two countries in 2006.
The embassy also submitted a request through the Egyptian Foreign Ministry to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for clemency regarding the death sentences issued against six Yemeni nationals.
Ambassador Bahah praised the distinguished relations between the two countries and their peoples, affirming that Egypt has always been and will remain the primary destination for all segments of the Yemeni population due to its historical ties with Yemenis.
He emphasized that the embassy will work through all channels to strengthen bilateral relations in various fields.
For his part, the Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs assured that the Yemeni community will always be welcomed in their second home, Egypt.
He noted that the Foreign Ministry will communicate with all relevant authorities to address the urgent issues discussed.