Closure of al-Makha port leaves workers and traders fearing for the future

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that repeated Houthi attacks on al-Makha port in western Yemen have forced the facility to suspend operations, leaving workers, fishermen and traders worried about their livelihoods. The port, also known as Mocha, had reopened in 2021 and had served as an economic link for Taiz and nearby governorates, but the latest wave of strikes has damaged infrastructure and halted activity.

According to the report, attacks on August 9 and in the days that followed killed and injured civilians and seamen, including a strike on a vessel and later attacks on cargo ships. Al Jazeera cites port director Abdulmalik Al-Sharabi as saying more than 1,500 workers lost their jobs, with deaths and injuries also reported among port staff and others connected to the facility. The port’s pier, workshops and equipment were among the areas hit.

Workers told Al Jazeera that the closure has cut off daily wages and created immediate food and debt problems for families. Fishermen in al-Makha have also been ordered to stay ashore, while some local beaches and public areas remain closed because of security fears and a nightly motorcycle curfew. Communications have also been disrupted, further isolating residents.

The disruption is expected to affect trade beyond al-Makha, as importers may have to reroute goods through Aden, increasing transport and logistics costs. Al Jazeera says traders fear that, if the port remains shut, higher expenses will eventually feed into local prices and worsen hardship in an already war-affected region.