African migrants stranded in Yemen face worsening humanitarian crisis

African migrants who are stranded in Yemen as the country's border with Saudi Arabia remains closed are facing an unfolding humanitarian crisis worsened by depleting aid supplies, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

With humanitarian aid running low, migrants there are finding it even harder to survive.

Abdulaziz Mohammed, an Ethiopian migrant, arrived in Aden in southern Yemen about 15 days ago after a risky sea journey with smugglers. He had hoped to reach Saudi Arabia for a better life, but his journey came to a halt at the heavily guarded border.

"I was trying to cross into Saudi Arabia, but now the border is heavily guarded. The military has closed the border, and the police have tightened security there. We cannot cross, so I am here in Yemen. We have no place to stay. We look for food on the streets and sleep under the trees," he said.

Abdulaziz is one of thousands of migrants who continue to travel from the Horn of Africa to Yemen, despite the risks at sea, smuggling networks and security concerns.

The IOM says more than 110,000 migrants arrived in Yemen between January and the end of July.

"Migrants in Yemen face many risks, including human trafficking, exploitation, detention, violence and various forms of abuse. Many of them rely on smuggling networks to facilitate their movement, which exposes them to harm and risks that are not limited to crossing borders, but continue to affect them throughout the entire journey," said Mohamad Hatoum, IOM programme manager for protection.

But reaching Yemen does not mean they can continue their journey. Many find themselves stranded without shelter, income or basic services in a country already facing a deep humanitarian crisis.

"There are major economic, political, geographical and security challenges resulting from this migration. In Yemen specifically, because of the war and the difficult economic situation, there are certainly additional burdens on the host country. We all know the situation we have reached, with international organizations absent and no aid available for internally displaced people. So they undoubtedly represent an additional burden," said Mansour Al-Jaradi, a humanitarian aid activist.

African migrants stranded in Yemen face worsening humanitarian crisis

A Japanese scholar who focuses on tracing Japan's wartime chemical weapons legacy on Wednesday revisited a poison gas bomb factory used by the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II, in efforts to uncover more historical truth and reflect on the cruel war of aggression.

Harada Kazuaki, the scholar, has dedicated years of his life investigating the production and usage of chemical weapons by the Imperial Japanese Army during WWII.

Sone Manufacturing Plant, located at Fukuoka Prefecture's Kitakyushu City, was where poison gas bombs were produced. Millions of poison gas shells transported from here were dropped on China and caused severe casualties.

"Here's the main factory for producing mustard gas and Lewisite. The building behind is where the products would undergo their final processing. A temporary warehouse can also be seen in the rear left. The building at the very back is the primary factory for producing diphenylcyanoarsine and diphenylchloroarsine," said Harada.

Sone Manufacturing Plant became an important chemical weapons production base in Japan back then, relying on the industrial and military systems of imperial Japan. By transferring the relevant technique to private enterprises, the Japanese military gradually formed a chemical weapons production system from scientific research to production.

"The military was capable of producing small batches on a laboratory scale, while private companies were responsible for scaling up production. At the time, Japan's primary targets in the war were the Korean Peninsula and China. Therefore, Kitakyushu was the most convenient location for shipping out the chemical weapons," Harada said.

Harada said he believes studying this part of history is not merely about looking back at the past, but more importantly, it is about reflecting on how people can learn from history to prevent wars.

"What I hope for is to draw lessons from history that can help us reflect on how we can prevent war," Harada said.

Japanese expert uncovers Japan's use of chemical weapons during WWII