Al Mazyona: Oman is erecting a 288 kilometres border fence at the Yemen border in trepidation of attacks by militants associated with the militant groups present across the border and to combat vices like drug and smuggling.
According to a top official of the company handling the project, an Indian company (EPIL) was awarded the project to construct the fence along 288 kms of border. The source who spoke on condition of anonymity told Muscat Daily, “The first phase of the project has been completed where the company has successfully installed 180 kilometers of fence across the border. The phase 2 is yet to begin. The border security fence is a high-quality fence that can’t be cut or crossed.”
Following the war situation that emerged in the neighboring country, Oman has chosen to stay uninvolved in the Yemeni war, being the only Gulf country not to join the Saudi-led coalition forces. Instead, Oman has diplomatically played the role of a worthy neighbor and has helped Yemenis at the time it was required.
Truth Tracker went to find out how well the Sultanate has balanced the act on border with Yemen while staying out of the proxy war. The first phase of the fencing project has seen significant success in declining of illegal activities like drugs and smuggling. There has been a slowdown in illegal crossovers from Yemen but numbers have not stopped entirely.
Al Mazyona located in the northwest borders of the Sultanate with the Republic of Yemen has witnessed the changing situations on the borders of the country in times of War. Sheikh Ahmed Saeed Zabanout, son of the Wali of Mazyona in Dhofar told Truth Tracker, “80 per cent of Yemen’s borders closed and no one can enter or exit, and there are large checks on the borders of Yemen from the Omani side. The people have always shared a cordial relationship with the people in Mahra governate. During the past two years we have seen war and hapless neighbors where the condition of some patients was extremely serious and they had to be transferred to hospitals in Salalah.”
Zabanout, who had earlier negotiated evacuation of expatriates stuck in Yemen during the war with Houthis said, “Oman shares a good relationship with the Gulf states and Oman wants to stay out of the fight in Yemen. The restaurants and trade movement in Mazyona increased as more people escaped from the situation across the border. The evacuees tell us there are too many problems in Taiz province (in Yemen) because a large number of its residents do not have basic necessities. There is no aid to reach this area from all the countries such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia as borders are sealed.”
According to the official, The Mahri clan and Houthis share a brotherly bond. He explained, “The Mahris are located in Yemen and Oman and we have families who are married across the border, when the nation is crumbling down amidst state of war, strong family ties have given solace to the destitute people. Marriage are seamless between both sides. We also get students who come down to Mazyouna to study in Salalah without any problems. A lot of people have started restaurants and have got their visa.”
Speaking about smuggling and drug dealing, he commented, “Smuggling of some goods mostly cars, arms, drugs and Oil has significantly reduced as the border is closed and army monitoring has improved. The presence of military and security forces has also increased markedly over the past two years and increased military checkpoints along roads that feed into the border regions. Oil smuggling has reduced as well. I am against smuggling of anything as my father was especially arms. There have been cases where illegal immigrants from Ethiopia and Somalia use to enter Oman in hope of getting jobs in UAE. They traveled on foot that at times, we found several of them dead in our governate as they reached Oman by secret means. They were too fatigued and died. We had to return their bodies to the concerned authorities.”
A doctor at the only health center in Mazyona, who has been working for a year in Mazyona said, “We have treated a lot of civilians across the border in times of war. We have treated people with issues like cardiology, gynecology and other health and gun injuries. The sight of Yemeni patients is very common in our health center as this is closest to access to some people if they have to travel to far flung center hospital that are affected by the war. We got about 40 to 60 patients during time of war. We do not have a full fledge hospital and are specialized in providing people with medical aid. We get about 200 to 300 patients every day.”
The ongoing war that has become a humanitarian catastrophe, killing more than 10,000, displacing 3 million and causing widespread food shortages. As Oman works to increase its security presence in Mazyouna and administer the flow of people and goods across the border, the critical question is that how would the state secure the border without disrupting the trade that supports needy populations on both sides or creating conditions that could give militant groups foothold.
