Yemen lifts livestock ban

Thirteen months after it imposed a ban on the import of livestock from Somalia, the Republic of Yemen has rescinded the ban, the BBC reported on Saturday. Yemen along with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states imposed the ban in September 2000 because of fears that Somali livestock were prone to Rift Valley Fever (RVF), a virulent hemorrhagic disease which can be transmitted to humans, leading in some cases to death. Although the lifting of the ban by Yemen is important, the continued closure of the much more important Saudi Arabian market will continue to create economic hardships for Somalia, A. H. Shirwa, the Somalia representative of the USAID-funded Famine Early Warning Systems (FEWs) told IRIN. The ban on the livestock trade, which used to earn the country US $120 million per annum, has crippled the Somali economy said Shirwa. Shirwa said that the first reaction of Somali traders to this news will probably be to send more livestock to Yemen which in turn will depress the price of their animals. The decision by Yemen, will, however, not have much effect on the more important Saudi market, he said. "It is unlikely that the Yemeni decision will push the Saudi's to open their market," said Shirwa. Barring any sudden change of heart on the part of the Saudi's, their market "will most likely remain closed for the Hajj peak season", said Shirwa. The Hajj, the Islamic pilgrimage comes 70 days after Ramadan and is the high season for Somali livestock. Any opening of the Saudi market will probably not happen before next year, he added. The decision by Yemen follows that of the United Arab Emirates, which earlier this year lifted their ban on the import of Somali chilled meat and live animals.