Sana'a: In a blatant contradiction that exposes the falsity of its claims and its shameful attempts at denial, the Saudi regime continues to issue misleading statements and try to feign innocence, ignoring the fact that the truth is too obvious to be hidden. While Riyadh attempts to cover up its crimes and issues a statement from its Ministry of Foreign Affairs trying to deflect suspicion and mislead global public opinion by claiming it has no connection to the blockade, official data released by the Yemeni Ministry of Economy, Industry, and Investment during the press conference and exhibition "The Yemeni Economy: 12 Years Under Blockade (2015-2026)" revealed the horrific and documented toll of the "slow death" inflicted by the Saudi aggression on the Yemeni people.
According to Yemen News Agency, the ministry's report revealed irrefutable facts and documented with figures the extent of the systematic destruction that has affected all aspects of life in the country over the past 12 years. The data in the report proved that the Yemeni economy has suffered staggering initial losses exceeding $1.13 trillion as a result of the ongoing aggression and blockade, these losses are distributed as follows: $648 billion in cumulative losses in economic output and $482 billion in direct losses affecting various productive and service sectors of the economy.
The report explained that this bill rises exponentially, exceeding trillions of dollars, when indirect losses and the cost of comprehensive war reparations are taken into account, with daily reparations costing approximately $150 million. The losses encompassed all sectors of the national economy. Foreign trade losses reached approximately $111.13 billion, with a 65% decline in trade activity and the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs.
The agriculture and livestock sector recorded losses of $111 billion, affecting approximately 1.2 million farmers, the industrial sector suffered losses exceeding $82.5 billion, with thousands of production facilities shutting down. The oil and minerals sector incurred direct losses of $57 billion, bringing the total to over $130 billion, with production halted at a rate of 90,000 barrels per day. In addition, the state treasury incurred losses of approximately $30 billion.
The devastation extended to the electricity and energy sectors, with losses amounting to $27.4 billion; transportation, with $23.2 billion; tourism and antiquities, with $11 billion; telecommunications, with $6.3 billion; health, with $7 billion; and water, with approximately $800 million. The report documented the extensive damage inflicted on infrastructure and services. Sixteen airports and seventeen seaports were targeted and partially or completely destroyed, along with 5,600 power plants and generators, 12,400 water facilities and equipment, 718 telecommunications facilities, 476 health centers and facilities, 1,510 schools, 16,798 commercial establishments, and 470 factories.
This aggression resulted in the destruction of 9,017 roads and bridges, and damage to and destruction of 623,599 homes and residential buildings, causing widespread disruption to public services and supply chains. On the humanitarian front, the blockade and aggression have led to an increase in the unemployment rate to 65 percent, and about 31 million citizens have been affected and are now facing the direct risks of famine. The report revealed that among those affected are more than 2.2 million children under the age of five, and more than 1.3 million pregnant and lactating women who are suffering from acute risks of malnutrition, in addition to the dismissal of about 60% of the workforce in various sectors.
Through the screening of a documentary, those present at the press conference witnessed the details of one of the most poignant human stories: the story of Amal, one of hundreds of victims who died of starvation while waiting for milk delivered by a ship deliberately prevented from entering Yemen by the Saudi-led aggression under the pretext of inspection. The report presented documents, photographs, and film footage of numerous documented incidents and raids carried out by the aggression against airports, ports, and border crossings over the past 12 years, exposing the criminal and heinous role the aggression attempts to deny in the killing of the Yemeni people.
In separate statements, attendees affirmed that this report represents a documented national database exposing the falsehoods of the Saudi Foreign Ministry's statements and its attempts at international and UN disinformation. They reiterated their unwavering and conscious support for the leader of the revolution, Sayyid Abdul-Malik Badr al-Din al-Houthi, and their absolute support for his decisions and the actions of the armed forces in imposing the "siege for siege" equation. Those present emphasized that national responsibility dictates translating these precise figures into institutional and field action plans to protect the national economy and bolster the resilience of the Yemeni people until the aggression ends and all legitimate rights are restored.
It is clear from an analysis of the situation that 12 years of blockade and aggression have not broken the will of the Yemeni people; rather, they have strengthened their resolve and deepened their awareness of the inevitability of the decisive battle. In light of the resounding collapse of Saudi Arabia's claims of innocence, the blood of the martyrs, the sacrifices of the free, and the toll of widespread destruction remain an indelible historical testament, a renewable source of fuel for achieving a resounding victory and breaking the chains of arrogance until all Yemeni soil is liberated and all usurped rights are fully restored.