Yemen cancels flights and suspends classes over coronavirus fears

Yemen's government has ordered the suspension of international flights and the closure of educational institutions to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus to the country.

The measures are similar to those being taken by countries around the world to contain the Covid-19 pandemic, although Yemen has not yet detected any cases.

A statement from Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik's office said humanitarian flights were exempted from the ban, which begins on March 18.

The state-run Saba news agency said all border crossings would be closed except for commercial and humanitarian shipments.

The government also suspended classes in all educational institutions including schools, universities and vocational training schools, Saba reported.

The Houthi rebels, who control much of northern Yemen including the capital Sanaa, also announced a ban on passenger flights on Saturday, although city's airport receives only occasional humanitarian flights.

Yemen's health infrastructure has been severely affected by nearly five years of civil war between the Iran-backed rebels and government forces supported by a Saudi-led military coalition.

“Fortunately, no coronavirus cases have been reported in Aden and Yemen so far, but we have proactively started preparing for any emergent cases," said Dr Jamal Khadabakhish of the public health authority in Aden, where the government is based.

Dr Khadabakhish said the local branch of the World Health Organisation was assisting with preparations to deal with a possible outbreak.

"We have co-ordinated with WHO Yemen which granted us some medical equipment and some testing materials but we are fighting to get a place to open a quarantine centre for suspected cases," he told The National.

“We previously selected two places but the residents living nearby rejected the plan fearing infection," he said, blaming rumours spread by the media.

An official at Aden's international airport welcomed the flight ban, saying most entry points lacked the equipment needed to detect suspected cases among arrivals.

“We have met many officials from the ministry of public health, WHO Yemen and other international organisation. Many of them promised to provide the airport with equipment needed to test passengers arriving at the airport but nothing has happened so far,” the official said.

Sole survivors

Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.

WOMAN AND CHILD

Director: Saeed Roustaee

Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi

Rating: 4/5

Nepotism is the name of the game

Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.