Sanaa: The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources held a press conference today on the occasion of the 11th National Resilience Day 2026. The conference highlighted the scale of direct losses and damages inflicted by the US-Saudi-Emirati aggression on the agricultural, fisheries, and water facility sectors, as they are fundamental pillars of food security and the national economy.
According to Yemen News Agency, Acting Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources Ammar Al-Karim affirmed that the aggression, announced on the night of March 26, 2015, from Washington, received continuous US support, reflecting the direct role of the United States in targeting Yemen, its land, and its people. He pointed out that the aggression came in response to the Yemeni people's rejection of external guardianship, following the success of the September 21, 2014 Revolution. He noted that the so-called Arab coalition did not take a similar stance on Arab and Islamic issues, foremost of which is the Palestinian cause.
Al-Karim explained that the aggression caused severe damage to various sectors, particularly agriculture, fisheries, and water, targeting infrastructure, markets, and farms, in addition to imposing a crippling siege that directly impacted food security. He stated that the press conference covered only part of the direct damages, while the actual effects cannot be definitively quantified as they multiply over time, affirming Yemen's right to demand compensation for damages through all legitimate means.
The Acting Minister addressed attempts to target the agricultural sector by introducing harmful plants and affecting crop genetic resources, affirming that despite challenges, the Yemeni people have managed to strengthen resilience and build through community initiatives and expansion in land reclamation. He reported that the agricultural and fisheries sectors represent a frontline in confronting the aggression due to their direct link to food security, highlighting the importance of integrating official and community efforts to achieve self-sufficiency and enhance resilience and steadfastness in the face of aggression.
Deputy Minister of Information Dr. Omar Al-Bukhayti affirmed the importance of the media's role in exposing the aggression's crimes and highlighting the Yemeni people's resilience over 11 years of aggression and siege. He praised the cohesion of the internal front and the community's awareness in facing current challenges resulting from the aggression and siege over the past 11 years. Dr. Al-Bukhayti pointed out that despite the continuous aggression, Yemen has managed to remain resilient and thwart plans to target it, thanks to the cohesion of its leadership and the resilience of its people.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture for the Fisheries Sector, Dr. Fawzi Al-Saghir, presented in a statement issued by the ministry the scale of direct losses and damages sustained by the agricultural and fisheries sectors during the period 2015-2026, amounting to three trillion and 338 billion Yemeni riyals, equivalent to 13 billion, 355 million, and 591 thousand US dollars. The statement explained that the aggression destroyed over 19,400 agricultural and livestock facilities and 12,400 water facilities, at an estimated cost of 1.614 billion dollars, in addition to targeting agricultural machinery and equipment at a cost exceeding 262 million dollars.
The statement indicated that the fisheries sector was directly targeted, including the destruction of more than 4,700 fishing boats and landing centers, the martyrdom and injury of 487 fishermen, in addition to the abduction of over 2,000 fishermen. According to the statement, the US-Saudi-Emirati aggression targeting led to a decline in fish production and an 83.7 percent drop in exports, falling from 46,300 tons in 2014 to 7,521 tons in 2025.
The statement condemned the aggression coalition's targeting of the agriculture and fisheries sectors as vital sectors linked to food security, holding the aggression countries fully responsible for the damages resulting from the aggression's targeting. The statement called on the international community to assume its responsibilities in stopping violations, lifting the siege, and supporting recovery and reconstruction efforts.
The Ministry of Agriculture concluded the conference by affirming that the Yemeni people will continue to enhance their resilience, develop their productive capacities, and preserve their agricultural and fisheries resources as a fundamental pillar for facing challenges and achieving self-sufficiency. The conference was attended by Deputy Ministers of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources for the Plant Wealth Sector Dr. Ibrahim Al-Siraji, for the Animal Wealth Sector Dr. Abdul Raouf Al-Shawkani, the General Authority for Water Resources and Facilities Engineer Abdul Karim Al-Sufyani, and the head of the Agricultural Cooperative Union Mubarak Al-Qaili.