[04/07/2017 02:08]

ADEN-SABA

The government is working to rebuild the security apparatuses in its recaptured areas even amidst big setbacks and difficulties, the Ministry of Human Rights said.

In a statement commenting on the US State Department's latest report on Yemen, the ministry said the government is acting upon presidential directions to abide by the law and human rights principles especially the banning of recruiting children, under 18, as soldiers.

The ministry said it followed up with interest the latest State Department report on human trafficking, tourist marriage and child exploitation including the recruitment of child soldiers.

The ministry's statement read: "Everyone knows that the war the militia's waged war against the government to this date has
been systematically focused on undermining the security institutions and destroying their already modest infrastructure, practices that count as a liability in these institutions' capability to fight terrorism and gangs involved in humans, drugs and weapons trafficking."

The ministerial statement said the government has made a significant progress in banning child soldier recruitments from 2013.

"It is possible for the international organizations to verify the matter by contacting the competent state authorities. And the government is ready to cooperate in this regard. "

The practice of recruiting child soldiers made a strong comeback, however, since the beginning of the militia takeover such that the militia recruited thousands of children to fight for them, the statement goes on.

The statement said the militia's war has eroded the government's capability to fulfill any of its obligations toward the citizens in the coup militia-controlled areas.

"It is no unknown what the government achieved in the security and relief fields in the parts under its control in south and eastern Yemen. And still a lot has to be achieved by the government in light of the scarcity of resources and support due to the damages inflicted on all the infrastructures."

The statement affirmed the presence of the government headed by premier Ahmed Obeid bin Daghr on the ground, in Aden. The government "is continuing its work at a pace determined by the available resources."

"Rebuilding the institutions in the liberated areas is the bigger challenge the government faces today in the temporary capital, Aden and all other parts of Yemen with Arab coalition support."

---