HARC Head Receives ICRC Mission Chief in Yemen

Lawyer Niran Souqi, head of the Humanitarian Aid and Relief Commission (HARC) of the Presidium of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), met today, Wednesday, in the capital, Aden, with Mr. Mahmoud Abu Hassiba, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) mission in Yemen, and his accompanying delegation.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed ways to enhance the humanitarian response in line with national and international standards, particularly concerning detention centers, rehabilitation facilities, and their inmates, and stressed the importance of organizing joint workshops and training programs to improve humanitarian performance and develop an integrated action plan.

At the beginning of the meeting, lawyer Souqi welcomed the ICRC delegation, praising the strong relationship between the STC and the Red Cross, as well as the ongoing cooperation between the two sides in the humanitarian field. Moreover, she lauded the credibility of the committee's efforts amid the difficult circumstances facing the country, reaffirming the council's commitment to facilitating the ICRC's mission and overcoming any challenges that might hinder its flow of work.

Furthermore, lawyer Souqi expressed concern for those affected in the border areas of the South due to the daily attacks carried out by the terrorist Houthi militias, pointing to their frequent violations of international humanitarian law, and noted that the HARC is making significant efforts to deliver humanitarian aid despite the ongoing challenges on the ground.

Lawyer Souqi touched on the conditions in imprisonment facilities, reaffirming that the STC is assuming its responsibilities amid weak intervention from relevant government bodies—most notably the Interior Ministry—which has led to severe shortages of food, medicine, and basic services. She explained that the STC is working to bridge this gap in cooperation with local authorities and the Health Ministry while calling for support for rehabilitation programs and improved healthcare services within detention centers.

For his part, Mr. Mahmoud Abu Hassiba outlined the International Committee’s humanitarian interventions, particularly in the areas of detention centers' visits and the implementation of rehabilitation and healthcare programs, asserting that the ICRC places special focus on conflict-affected groups and works to facilitate their communication with relatives, in coordination with relevant authorities.

Mr. Abu Hassiba expressed his appreciation for the STC's cooperation, reaffirming the ICRC's continued support for the prison healthcare sector, including improving infrastructure, ensuring medicine supplies and clean water, and sanitation systems, highlighting the importance of establishing a sustainable, institutionalized healthcare system in line with international standards.

The meeting was attended by the ICRC delegation: Ms. Marlies Ackermann, Protection Officer in the capital, Aden. Vivienne Lusted, Detention Health Officer, Mr. Bahaa Hassan Al-Salami, Political Advisor and Assistant Head of Mission, and Mr. Mohammed Jaafar, Protection Officer.

From the STC side: Anwar Hizam, deputy head of the HARC, Ahdab Madi, rapporteur of the HARC; and Aseel Mohammed, deputy head of the Department of International Organizations and Human Rights Affairs of the Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Authority (FAEA) of the STC.