Government Committee Arrives at Al-Wadea Crossing to Assess Services Amid Rising Traveler Complaints
A committee tasked by Presidential Leadership Council member and Hadramout Governor Salem Ahmed Al-Khanbashi arrived on Monday at the Al-Wadea land border crossing to evaluate the level of services provided to travelers, assess the crossing's needs and operational obstacles, as traveler complaints about deteriorating basic services escalated and the issue became a trending topic on social media platforms.
The committee was headed by the Deputy Governor of Hadramout for Technical Affairs, Zaher bin Khawar Al-Kathiri, and included representatives from the local authority in Wadi and Sahra Hadramout, the projects department of the governor's office, the projects department in Wadi and Sahra Hadramout, as well as representatives from the Cleaning and Improvement Fund in the valley.
Upon its arrival, the committee held a meeting with the crossing's leadership, headed by Director General Amer Al-Sayari. During the meeting, they listened to the main problems and difficulties facing operations, as well as the crossing's needs for services and facilities, which would contribute to improving the level of services provided to travelers.
The visit covered various facilities at the crossing. The committee also inspected the new crossing, its level of readiness, and its operational needs. They discussed the requirements to complete its work, which would enhance its capacity to handle traveler traffic and improve the quality of services.
The visit comes amidst repeated complaints from travelers heading to Saudi Arabia about the lack of basic services at the crossing, including public restrooms. This coincides with overcrowding and travelers waiting for days due to congestion, with large numbers of families, children, and elderly people stuck in the desert amidst the dust.
Travelers and activists on social media platforms spoke of hundreds of families being forced to spend the night in the open, with limited restaurants and a lack of hotels, lodging, and public restrooms. They emphasized that the suffering is significantly worse for families, women, and children.
Recently, activists have been recirculating complaints about the conditions for travelers at the crossing, questioning the fate of its revenues, as it is the largest land port in Yemen. They expressed surprise, based on their inquiries, that the volume of revenue is not reflected in the provision of even the most basic needs for travelers.
The road leading to the Al-Wadea border crossing with Saudi Arabia frequently experiences congestion, with numerous buses waiting in the Al-Abr area for permission to reach the crossing. The travelers' ordeal continues after they enter due to an almost complete lack of basic services.
Source: Almahriah Net + Open sources
