Al Ghaydah (Arabic: الغيضة) is the capital city of Al Mahrah Governorate in south-eastern Yemen. It is one of the easternmost cities in the country, located near Yemen's border with Oman.

Al Ghaydah
الغيضة
City
Al Ghaydah is located in Yemen
Al Ghaydah
Al Ghaydah
Location in Yemen
Coordinates: 16°12′38″N 52°10′16″E / 16.21056°N 52.17111°E / 16.21056; 52.17111
Country Yemen
GovernorateAl Mahrah
DistrictAl Ghaydah
Population
 • Total
10,948
Time zoneUTC+3 (Yemen Standard Time)

History

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Civil war

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Al Ghaydah has been relatively unscathed during the Yemeni Civil War, and as a result has become a destination for many internally displaced persons fleeing the fighting.[1]

As part of its involvement in the civil war, Saudi Arabia has stationed its 123rd Infantry Brigade security unit in Al-Ghaydah.[2] In 2017, the Saudi-Emirati coalition seized Al Ghaydah Airport, but handed it back to civil authorities in 2018 following protests. Saudi Arabia's stated reason for stationing troops at the airport was to combat smuggling.[3] As of 2018, the coalition controlled much of the territory in Al Mahrah Governorate.[4]

According to Human Rights Watch, Saudi forces administer an informal detention center in Al Ghaydah's airport, where they have tortured prisoners they suspect of supporting Saudi Arabia's opponents in Yemen.[5]

Transport and infrastructure

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The city is served by Al Ghaydah Airport.

The FALCON undersea cable connects Yemen to the internet through a terminus in Al Ghaydah, as well as another in Al Hudaydah.[6]

Climate

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Al Ghaydah has a hot desert climate (Köppen climate classification: BWh)

Climate data for Al Ghaydah
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 27.8
(82.0)
28.2
(82.8)
30.6
(87.1)
32.6
(90.7)
34.7
(94.5)
35.1
(95.2)
32.7
(90.9)
32.3
(90.1)
32.6
(90.7)
31.9
(89.4)
30.5
(86.9)
28.5
(83.3)
31.5
(88.6)
Daily mean °C (°F) 22.7
(72.9)
23.4
(74.1)
25.6
(78.1)
27.7
(81.9)
30.1
(86.2)
30.7
(87.3)
28.9
(84.0)
28.3
(82.9)
28.4
(83.1)
26.8
(80.2)
25.1
(77.2)
23.6
(74.5)
26.8
(80.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 17.6
(63.7)
18.7
(65.7)
20.7
(69.3)
22.9
(73.2)
25.5
(77.9)
26.4
(79.5)
25.1
(77.2)
24.4
(75.9)
24.3
(75.7)
21.7
(71.1)
19.8
(67.6)
18.7
(65.7)
22.2
(71.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 8
(0.3)
4
(0.2)
6
(0.2)
9
(0.4)
1
(0.0)
1
(0.0)
3
(0.1)
3
(0.1)
0
(0)
2
(0.1)
7
(0.3)
7
(0.3)
51
(2)
Source: Climate-Data.org[7]

References

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  1. ^ Zaidi, Tariq (May 16, 2022). "Yemen: A glimmer of hope in a devastating war". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  2. ^ "Saudi forces accused of torture and illegal renditions in southern Yemen". Middle East Eye. March 25, 2020. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  3. ^ "Saudi-UAE forces give up Yemen's eastern airport". Middle East Monitor. July 16, 2018. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  4. ^ Bellis, Charlotte (July 14, 2018). "Yemen civil authorities take charges of the Al Ghaydah airport". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  5. ^ "Saudi forces accused of torture and illegal renditions in southern Yemen". Middle East Eye. March 25, 2020. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  6. ^ "A Saudi-led airstrike on a Yemen prison kills, injures more than 100, Red Cross says". National Public Radio. Associated Press. January 21, 2022. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  7. ^ "Climate: Al Ghaydah". Climate-Data.org. Retrieved October 30, 2017.