Socotra residents appeal to government to increase number of flights and reduce airfares

The people of Socotra Archipelago Governorate appealed to the Yemeni government to reduce the prices of airline tickets for the people of the governorate, as well as to increase the number of flights to and from the island, stressing that they are living under a "siege" amidst complete government neglect.

A number of the archipelago's residents confirmed that they are crowding into the mainland in the governorates of Al Mahrah and Hadhramaut, to obtain sea boats to take them to the island, despite the fact that they are fraught with danger, or air flights that many residents of the governorate cannot obtain tickets for due to their high prices.

In this regard, activist Abdullah Madahen, from the Socotra Archipelago Governorate, confirmed that the island’s residents are currently suffering from extremely difficult humanitarian conditions, which the island’s residents have been suffering from for the past decades, most notably the facilitation of travel and movement procedures between governorates.

In an interview with Yemen Youth Channel, he pointed out the suffering of the island's residents in traveling to the governorates of Al Mahrah, Hadhramaut and Aden, whether for treatment or to enroll in universities and institutes, considering the suffering of the island's residents as facing "government arrogance," as he described it.

In this regard, he called for the need to pay attention to the suffering of the island's residents, and to facilitate travel procedures by increasing the number of flights between the island and local and international airports, as well as reducing the prices of airline tickets.

He confirmed the high prices of tickets via Yemenia Airlines, despite the fact that it is originally a government company and a national carrier, noting that the prices of tickets from Hadhramaut to the island range from 300 to 400 dollars round trip, and the number of flights is only one weekly flight.

He pointed out that the weekly trip is not enough to meet the needs of the people of Socotra for transportation, especially for students or patients, especially critical cases, as well as students enrolled in institutes and universities in a number of other governorates.

He noted that ticket prices for the people of Socotra are high compared to the residents of other governorates, despite the presence of land outlets for the residents of other governorates to meet their needs, compared to the residents of the island who only have two air and sea outlets.

He stressed that sea voyages are fraught with danger, especially during the wind season, when residents face the risk of death, calling on the government to provide government support to reduce the prices of airline tickets for the people of the archipelago.

He pointed out that the island lives in complete isolation from the government, stressing that it does not pay any money for electricity, education or health in the governorate, calling for allocating this support to reduce the prices of airline tickets.

He said that the people of Socotra Governorate live under a "siege" imposed on them by the government, mocking any talk about Yemeni sovereignty on the island without the government providing any service to its people.

Socotra.. A governorate outside the Ministry of Transport's account #From_the_end #Yemeni_Youth pic.twitter.com/ZLCmHp30SL

— Yemen Youth TV Channel (@TVyemenshabab) October 5, 2024