News – Yemen: Yemen's Government has strongly condemned what the grave environmental crimes carried out by the occupation forces and their collaborators along the Yemeni coasts, warning of the far-reaching consequences these violations pose to marine ecosystems, food security, and public health in Yemen.

In a statement, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources reported that the continuous dumping of oil residues, plastics, and medical waste, combined with destructive fishing practices that contravene international standards, has devastated large stretches of the marine environment. This has significantly reduced the productivity of traditional fishing zones and endangered the livelihoods of Yemeni fishermen.

The ministry stressed that Yemeni waters under the control of the occupation have become heavily polluted, turning some coastal areas into open dumping grounds for toxic waste that threatens marine life and long-term natural resources. Beyond environmental damage, the statement highlighted the health risks to Yemeni citizens who depend on the sea as a primary food source.

It further emphasized that these violations form part of a systematic policy by the occupation aimed at undermining Yemeni fishermen, depriving them of their main source of livelihood, and eroding marine habitats including coral reefs. The ministry also accused the Saudi-backed government of disgraceful silence and complicity with the forces of occupation and aggression.

The ministry called on the Yemeni people and national forces to expose and resist these crimes at every level, stressing that fishery wealth is a cornerstone of Yemen’s food security and a right that must be preserved for future generations. It urged international and environmental organizations to assume their responsibilities in monitoring, condemning, and pressing to halt these violations, while confirming Yemen’s intention to document the environmental damage and pursue those responsible before national and international courts.

The environmental violations come amid broader ambitions of the Saudi-Emirati coalition to consolidate control over Yemen’s southern coasts and islands. Popular resistance to these designs has been mounting: thousands in Socotra protested against Emirati attempts to dominate the island, while the people of Al-Mahra rose up demanding sovereignty and rejecting foreign presence. Demonstrations have since spread to Aden, where the UAE maintains tens of thousands of loyal local forces. Analysts draw parallels between today’s protests and the 1960s anti-British uprisings, which laid the foundation for armed struggle in the south.