Sana’a - SABA:
The Parliamentary Committees on Media, Culture, and Tourism, as well as Public Health and Population, held a joint meeting chaired by Mohammed Al-Junaid, Rapporteur of the Media Committee, and attended by Dr. Mahmoud Al-Harib, Chairman of the Health Committee, Khaled Al-Ansi, its Rapporteur, and the government side represented by Minister of Information Hashem Sharaf Al-Din.
The meeting, also attended by Deputy Minister of Information Dr. Omar Al-Bakheiti and several ministry specialists, discussed the general program of the Government of Change and Reconstruction, specifically the role of media in confronting the current exceptional challenges, the importance of adapting media coverage to recent developments in Yemen, and strengthening national resilience in the face of aggression and misinformation campaigns led by hostile media. The discussion emphasized the importance of using all media platforms, including social media, to promote public health education and awareness.
Al-Junaid welcomed the Minister and his Deputy, stressing the vital role of media in public awareness, particularly health education. He warned of the gravity of the current stage Yemen is experiencing and underscored the responsibility of visual, audio, and print media, as well as social media, to expose crimes committed by the Zionist enemy with U.S. support in Gaza and the region. He emphasized the need for coordinated efforts and strategic communication to confront hostile media and counter false narratives that distort awareness and facts.
The Chairman of the Health Committee stressed the importance of public health awareness to improve citizens’ health knowledge. The Rapporteur of the Health Committee praised the effective role of the Ministry of Information in combating hostile media campaigns, expressing appreciation for the efforts of the Minister, his Deputy, and all ministry leadership.
He commended the positive contribution of various media outlets in raising awareness and their efforts to keep up with developments, especially those related to countering and exposing hostile media propaganda.
For his part, the Minister of Information confirmed the Ministry’s dedication to improving media content and enhancing the level of national media messaging to counter enemy narratives amid the ongoing challenges facing Yemen.
He stated that the Ministry, through its institutions and platforms, fulfills its duties in resisting intense and systematic campaigns targeting Yemen, including misinformation and truth distortion. Minister Sharaf Al-Din reviewed actions taken by the Ministry to implement parliamentary recommendations, stressing the need for complementary relations between constitutional authorities.
He revealed that the Ministry is preparing a comprehensive media law covering all forms of media—including electronic journalism—ensuring the content is purposeful and constructive. He added that once finalized, the law will be submitted to Parliament for review and approval. The Minister acknowledged the difficulties and obstacles facing the Ministry’s operations due to the ongoing aggression and blockade.
He emphasized the importance of adhering to media principles and directives when dealing with national and Palestinian developments, and the need to activate and update strategic media plans to counter Zionist propaganda and its tools in the region.
Sharaf Al-Din also highlighted the importance of media exposure of Zionist massacres in Gaza, the U.S.’s enabling role in starving the population there, and the complicity of Arab regimes that have aligned with the Zionist enemy in its war escalation. He also stressed the importance of highlighting the global crisis triggered by Zionist war criminals.
In the same parliamentary context, the Committee on Labor and Social Affairs held a meeting chaired by Azam Salah and attended by Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Sameer Baje’ala, Deputy Minister for Social Development Ali Al-Razzami, Chairman of the General Authority for Small and Micro Enterprise Development Ahmed Al-Kabsi, and several ministry officials.
The meeting discussed the relevant components of the Government of Change and Reconstruction’s agenda, including strengthening resilience in the face of aggression, addressing its effects, improving public services and infrastructure, fostering human development and social welfare, organizing research institutions to align with development priorities and labor market needs, enhancing support for productive families—especially persons with disabilities—and boosting programs for economic empowerment and social protection for those unable to work due to health or social barriers, such as the elderly.
The committee also addressed the resumption of the locally funded cash assistance program—suspended since late 2014—for the Social Welfare Fund and the reactivation of the Fund’s role in improving the living conditions of poor families.
Minister Baje’ala provided an update on the implementation of parliamentary recommendations, which he described as closely aligned with citizens’ concerns and ministry priorities. He outlined ministry-led humanitarian interventions conducted in coordination with local partners.
He reviewed programs launched to economically empower impoverished groups and persons with disabilities, as well as the ministry’s efforts in providing social welfare, shelter, and healthcare for unaccompanied homeless individuals. He also detailed efforts to disburse financial aid to those covered by social protection programs.
The committee chair emphasized the need for collaborative efforts to confront all challenges and meet the aspirations of the Yemeni people, stressing the importance of adhering to all parliamentary recommendations and the Government of Change and Reconstruction’s program.
Meanwhile, the Trade and Industry Committee held a meeting chaired by Committee Rapporteur Mohammed Al-Miqdad, attended by Minister of Economy, Industry, and Investment Engineer Moein Al-Mahqari, Deputy Ministers Ayman Al-Khulqi (Industry) and Mohammed Qatran (Commerce), Chairman of the General Investment Authority Yasser Al-Mansour, several factory and enterprise heads, and other ministry officials.
The committee reviewed the ministry’s progress in implementing parliamentary recommendations related to the Government of Change and Reconstruction’s agenda, the delayed aspects and reasons for the delays, and what had been achieved based on the ministry’s objectives, duties, and competencies. The meeting also addressed damages caused by Zionist aggression to industrial facilities and discussed the necessary steps for their rehabilitation.
The discussions included updates on efforts to restart and rehabilitate the textile and spinning factory through a loan granted to the General Corporation for Spinning and Weaving.
The committee requested written responses from the government representatives to study and report back to Parliament. They expressed appreciation to the government side for their responses and clarifications during the meeting.
The committee affirmed it would analyze these responses and reports to evaluate the performance and compliance of the relevant entities with parliamentary directives and government program implementation.
Also, the Local Authority Committee, chaired by Hamed Rajeh, met with Deputy Minister of Local and Rural Development Nasser Al-Mahdhar, Undersecretary Mansour Al-Lukumi, and other ministry experts.
The committee discussed the ministry’s progress on its responsibilities within the government’s general program and Parliament’s recommendations. The committee requested updates on what had been achieved, what remains incomplete, and reasons for any delays. It also requested responses to inquiries raised by committee members.
Separately, the Financial Affairs Committee held an evening meeting chaired by Ahmed Al-Nuwaira, with the attendance of Minister of Finance Abduljabbar Ahmed, Minister of Economy, Industry, and Investment Engineer Moein Al-Mahqari, and specialists from both ministries.
The meeting focused on economic and financial recommendations and reviewed the implementation of parliamentary directives on financial and economic policies. The committee listened to government briefings regarding efforts to increase public revenues, control public spending, improve the investment climate, protect national capital, support domestic products against foreign competition, submit final accounts, and enhance public financial oversight. The committee also reiterated the need to halt all illegal levies and fees.
The committee agreed to continue reviewing the responses and draft its final report with observations and recommendations for Parliament.
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