Editing Hodeidah (section)

==Economy==
Situated on the [[Red Sea]], Hodeidah is an important port, exporting coffee, cotton, [[Phoenix dactylifera|dates]] and [[Hide (skin)|hides]]. It was developed as a seaport in the mid-19th century by the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman Turks]]. As of June 2018, three quarters of humanitarian and commercial cargo entering Yemen arrived via [[Hudaydah Port]].<ref name="wsj">{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-deepens-role-in-yemen-fight-offers-gulf-allies-airstrike-target-assistance-1528830371 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180613000241/https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-deepens-role-in-yemen-fight-offers-gulf-allies-airstrike-target-assistance-1528830371 |archive-date=June 13, 2018 |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |first=Dion |last=Nissenbam |title=U.S. Deepens Role in Yemen Fight, Offers Gulf Allies Airstrike-Target Assistance |access-date=June 13, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> It serves as the entry point for Yemen's [[humanitarian aid]] and around 70% of commercial imports.<ref>{{Cite news| last1 = Hasson| first1 = Nir| last2 = Khoury| first2 = Jack| title = Israeli Panel Approves 640 New Settler Homes in East Jerusalem| work = Haaretz| access-date = 2018-11-08| date = 2018-11-07| url = https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-israeli-panel-approves-640-new-settler-homes-in-east-jerusalem-1.6633141}}</ref>  The port of Ras Isa is slightly north of Hodeidah proper, and is the terminus of the [[Marib–Ras Isa oil pipeline]] from inland Yemen, with a major storage and offloading vessel named [[FSO Safer|FSO ''Safer'']] moored offshore, though idled since the beginning of the Yemeni Civil War in 2015.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://worldmaritimenews.com/archives/288102/report-houthis-seeking-help-to-prevent-massive-oil-spill-off-yemen-from-leaking-fso/ | title=Report: Houthis Seeking Help to Prevent Massive Oil Spill off Yemen from Leaking FSO | publisher=World Maritime News | date=17 December 2019 | access-date=19 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/23/yemen-deserted-tanker-holding-over-1m-oil-barrels-explode | title=Experts fear deserted oil tanker off Yemen could explode | work=The Guardian | date=23 July 2019 | access-date=19 December 2019}}</ref>

In 1920, the British described Hodeidah's port as being a "poor harbour." With two entrances, it was only able to provide adequate storage and shelter for small boats, with larger boats and ships having to dock over two miles away. In 1908, a new pier was built, which had trouble with depth, leading most imported items to be dumped on the beach instead of delivered by dock. Coal was often available for visiting vessels. A new harbour was built 10 miles northwest of the town by the [[Ottoman government]], with a small train line leading to Hodeidah, and connected to the Sana-Hodeida Railway. A French company built the rail system, which was halted upon the [[Italo-Turkish War]] breakout. In 1909, the port was bringing in less than the port at [[Jeddah]]. That year, 172 [[steam ships]] visited the port. The majority of the goods were from the [[United Kingdom]], followed by [[Italy]], [[Russia]] and [[Germany]]. German imports had grown from 1905 to 1909, with British shipping declining.<ref name=Prothero70>{{cite book |last=Prothero|first=G.W. |title=Arabia |year=1920 |publisher=H.M. Stationery Office |location=London |page=70 |url=http://www.wdl.org/en/item/11767/view/1/70/}}</ref> Despite struggles with a good quality harbour, the town was described as being the centre of [[dhow]] building.<ref name=Prothero99>{{cite book |last=Prothero|first=G.W. |title=Arabia |year=1920 |publisher=H.M. Stationery Office |location=London |page=99 |url=http://www.wdl.org/en/item/11767/view/1/99/}}</ref>

The city was known for producing striped coarse cotton cloth, woven by hand. The artisans making the cloth were relocated to Hodeidah from [[Zabīd]] and Beit el-Faki due to tribal conflict.<ref name="Prothero99"/> The city was also a centre for [[Tanning (leather)|tanning]] and [[sandal]] making.<ref name="Prothero99"/>

In the late 19th century, Hodeidah was a major exporter of [[coffee]], although its export business shifted to [[Aden]] in the early 20th century due to more secure routes there. Hodeidah had to transport its goods through [[Yemen]] and Indian ports for security reasons, making export to the United Kingdom troublesome. During this time period, the region imported cereal and rice from India, cotton from [[Manchester]], England and the United States, iron and steel from Germany, and general goods from Italy and [[Austria]]. As of 1920, the city was exporting [[fuller's earth]], hides, and coffee.<ref name=Prothero70/> The coffee produced in Hodeidah was considered some of the finest in the region.<ref name=Prothero83>{{cite book |last=Prothero|first=G.W. |title=Arabia |year=1920 |publisher=H.M. Stationery Office |location=London |page=83 |url=http://www.wdl.org/en/item/11767/view/1/83/}}</ref>