Hundreds of citizens in Hadhramaut are facing difficulty in obtaining passports amid the worsening problem of the lack of notebooks in the Immigration and Passports Authority branch in Mukalla for more than a month.

A number of citizens reported that they come from the early hours of dawn to the gate of the Immigration and Passports Authority in the Al-Dis area and stand in a long line in order to obtain passports. He explained that immigration officials confirm that they have a very limited amount of passport books and that they are allocated only to those with incurable diseases.

Abu Muhammad told “NewsYemen”: “I suffer from the disease, as does my wife, and we have medical reports about it, but the department officials deal with us randomly. A passport was issued to my wife and I was excluded even though I informed them that I am her companion and also sick, but the officials have been delaying me for more than a month.” ".

He pointed out that he receives repeated appointments to obtain a passport, but upon his arrival he is shocked by the refusal of officials and the excuse that there are no records and the delay in its arrival.

The passport book crisis causes many problems for patients and others, especially for those who have contracts and job opportunities outside Yemen or who have scholarships.

According to an official at the Immigration and Passports Authority in Mukalla, he confirmed to “NewsYemen”: Directives from the Authority’s administration to approve only those with incurable diseases and critical cases at the present time due to the limited records available. Pointing out that the administration has been waiting since the beginning of September for a quantity of notebooks to arrive at the authority, but its delay has caused a major problem in light of the increasing number of people wishing to obtain passports.

He added that there are many people who have completed their applications and are waiting to receive their passports and come daily to the Department’s branch to inquire about them.