Yemeni Officers Complain of Chaos During Biometric Registration in Aden

Dozens of officers and personnel affiliated with the Yemeni government's Ministry of Defense have reported significant organizational chaos during biometric registration procedures at Al-Badr camp in the temporary capital, Aden. They cited overcrowding and poor management as causes for the disruption of their transactions, leading to cases of fainting among the elderly.

Officers and personnel speaking to Al-Khaba Agency stated that hundreds of individuals have been arriving daily since dawn at the camp designated for updating data and capturing thumb and eye prints. This process is part of a Ministry of Defense campaign to purge payrolls, identify cases of dual employment, and eliminate ineligible recipients.

They further explained that the absence of a clear queuing system forced them to wait for extended periods under the sun, with temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius. Approximately five cases of fainting and dizziness were observed over the past three days, primarily affecting senior officers.

Several officers indicated they had completed data forms more than three days prior but had been unable to reach the biometric committee due to the congestion and disarray. Others, who had traveled from distant governorates, were compelled to leave Aden without completing the procedures due to the time elapsed and escalating accommodation and travel costs.

The officers accused influential parties within the ministry of intentionally prolonging and obstructing the process, asserting that this jeopardizes the Ministry of Defense's efforts to unify military formations and address the widespread issue of dual employment that has worsened since the conflict began.

These complaints coincided with statements from the Minister of Defense, Lieutenant General Thair Al-Aqaili, who acknowledged obstacles facing financial and administrative reforms within the ministry. He attributed the disruption of new salary disbursement procedures to certain unit commanders.

Al-Aqaili clarified that the delay in disbursing the April salary was due to pending daily attendance logs required for implementing statutory deductions. He noted that some unit commanders had refused to adhere to new directives and attempted to hinder the implementation of the smart card salary system, which aims to deliver entitlements directly to military personnel and curb irregularities.

According to military sources, the biometric and smart card system are integral components of a governmental plan to restructure the payroll system and eradicate dual employment. Official estimates suggest tens of thousands of dual employment cases exist within the military and security institutions, in addition to names illegally added to payrolls during the war years.