Today, the Republic of Yemen is participating with various countries of the world in celebrating the fifty-sixth anniversary of the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, which comes this year under the slogan “Promoting Digital Gender Equality”, and highlights improving global communication, enhancing international cooperation and reducing the digital divide - despite the circumstances it is going through as a result of the ongoing aggression against the country in all aspects of social, political, economic and developmental life, for more than ten years, during which the countries of aggression against Yemen have destroyed more than 35% of the infrastructure of the telecommunications and information technology sector, with more than (2770) air raids, which caused the isolation of more than 120 Yemeni villages and cities from the world.

We, at the Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology, emphasize that the suffering of the Yemeni telecommunications and information technology sector continues to this day due to the difficult circumstances resulting from the aggression and blockade, which have significantly slowed the pace of technological progress and deprived the sector from benefiting from its full capabilities and potential. This is due to the systematic destruction of the infrastructure through the direct targeting of telecommunications facilities and stations spread across various regions of the country, in addition to the ongoing blockade and the ban imposed on the entry of telecommunications equipment used for civilian purposes, as well as depriving us of benefiting from the large investments in submarine cables and the unjust violation of our rights in various fields.

Despite all the challenges facing the Republic of Yemen, we in the telecommunications and information technology sector strive with all our limited energies and capabilities, to keep pace with the global trend in telecommunications and information technology by working to reduce the digital divide, which is a barrier to achieving digital equality between Gender and contributes to weaken global telecommunication and international cooperation.

We also affirm our commitment to continuing our efforts and endeavors, in cooperation with international and regional partners, to bridge the digital divide and improve access to telecommunications, the internet, and digital services, as a right guaranteed to all, based on our awareness of the importance of these services, on which all government and business sectors rely.

It is worth noting that the achievements made by the Yemeni ICT sector, by its exceptional efforts and high costs, have enabled the sector in recent years to withstand and continue providing services to all citizens across the country without exception. We also seek to improve the level of fixed and mobile internet services, deploy 4G and broadband networks, and adopt cloud computing technologies. This will contribute to the localization of technology and expand its spread, enabling Yemeni society to benefit from it and access various services via digital platforms and smart applications, thus contributing to promoting digital equality between gender.

We, at the Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology of the Republic of Yemen, renew our call to the United Nations, the International Telecommunication Union, and all humanitarian and international organizations to fulfill their humanitarian and moral responsibilities regarding the damage to the communications and information technology infrastructure in Yemen for more than ten years. We renew our demand for the following:

First: Standing up to the suffering of the Yemeni people as a just humanitarian cause, first and foremost, and working diligently to stop all forms of war and violations against the infrastructure of the telecommunications and internet network and its civilian facilities, ending the blockade imposed on telecommunications equipment, supplies, and systems for civilian use, and facilitating their entry into Yemen, thus contributing to alleviating the suffering of the Yemeni people.

Second: Work urgently to end the blockade and provide access to the technical equipment and spare parts needed to reactivate destroyed telecommunications and information technology sites and towers. This will restore services to residents of affected areas and cities, ensuring a reduction in the digital divide in the Republic of Yemen and achieving digital gender equality.

Third: Immediate intervention and putting pressure on the aggressor countries to facilitate the installation of the 5MWS and Africa-1 submarine cable branches and landing stations in Al Hudaydah Governorate, owned by Yemen Telecommunications, and to ensure their operation.

Fourth: Compel the aggression coalition to neutralize civilian telecommunications services and facilities, work to ensure the protection of individuals working in the telecommunications sector, and confront attempts to fragment and destroy telecommunications institutions, companies, and services in Yemen and their professionalism.

Fifth: We, at the Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology, affirm that the countries of the aggression coalition bear legal and moral responsibility for their military and economic crimes against the telecommunications and information technology infrastructure and the resulting catastrophic consequences that have affected various aspects of life.

Sixth: The Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology renews its call to the international community, the International Telecommunication Union, and UN, human rights, and humanitarian organizations to fulfill their duties to ensure the maintenance of minimum levels of human rights for millions of civilians by ensuring continued access to and operation of telecommunications services. We hold them responsible for ignoring this and other repeated calls.

God is the giver of success…

Issued by the Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology - Republic of Yemen

Sana'a - Saturday - May 17, 2025