Yemen – Frequent power cuts in Aden force residents to sleep outside in sweltering heat

Location: Aden, Yemen

Language: Arabic

Duration: 00:03:24

Voice: Natural

Source: A24 Yemen

Restriction: A24 subscribers

Date: 15/09/2022

Storyline:

Amid temperatures exceeding thirty degrees celsius even in mid-September, Aden residents continue to suffer from frequent power cuts that can last for hours.

With no access to air conditioning or even simple fans, many escape the sweltering heat in their homes, trying to sleep outside as they wait for the power to return.

Resident Mohamed Naguib told A24 that the power cuts seem to last longer when temperatures and humidity are highest and that the electricity shortage poses an ongoing health hazard, particularly for the elderly and people with hypertension and diabetes.

On Tuesday, The Qatar Fund for Development announced the start of rehabilitation work at Aden’s Al Hiswa Power Plant to provide the crisis-hit country with much-needed electricity.

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Soundbite (Mohamed Naguib – citizen):

“We are complaining these days about power cuts on days when the weather and humidity are high. We call on the Presidential Council to look into this because electricity is very important and it has become a big problem for the elderly, children, people with hypertension and diabetes.”

Soundbite (Abdullah Abdo – Citizen):

If electricity is available, citizens can at least drink cold water and get rid of high temperatures. People can’t stand sitting at home because of the heat. The outside is worse; It’s boiling hot. We don’t know what to do. People are living in difficult conditions.”

Soundbite (Mukhtar Abdullah – Citizen):

“We are exhausted by the electricity problem. Power is up for three hours and down for two. We buy ice from stores. We sleep in the open. We spend most of our time outside our homes. What is the use of this electricity? We asked them many times to solve this issue. We had some promises but they were all lies. We are tired. People who have money go to sleep in hotels and others who don’t have money sleep on the street. We are among those who sleep on the street. We don’t have money. What should we do? We have been complaining about this problem for a long time but to no avail. I think this issue will not be resolved until we die.”