Yemenis living in coup-controlled areas, particularly in Sanaa, live under tragic humanitarian conditions which most international organizations label the worst in the world.
Barely surviving a bitter terror exacted by Iran-backed militias who distance human morality in exchange for practicing psychological warfare, cold-blooded murder, kidnapping and oppression, Yemenis face untold suffering.
Houthis continue to practice a policy of starvation for coercion. When recruiting civilians, Houthis do not shy away from threatening with dire fates facing any prospect asked to join their militant forces. Most of those refusing recruitment are abducted by militiamen and taken to unknown locations.
“The militias starve citizens in many ways,” said Saleh, who lives in Sanaa.
“They took advantage of the internationally-recognized government moving the Central Bank to Aden and refrained from paying salaries public servicemen in their territories, dodging their duties.”
Day by day, people living in Houthi-controlled areas see their suffering aggravated. The aftermath of strangled humanitarian relief was exacerbated by a devalued national currency—the Yemeni riyal continued to plummet throughout the course of the civil war ravaging the country, recording a staggering low of 500 Yemeni riyals against the dollar.
Iran-allied Houthi militias have imposed arbitrary levies and royalties on import traders, which lowers the average citizen’s purchase power, delivering a severe blow to communities already struggling to survive the lowest possible standard of living.
Yemeni citizen Abdul Wasa says that pro-government forces, backed by the Saudi-led Arab Coalition, taking control over most national custom points has tightened the noose around Houthi militias. But Houthis in retaliation turned over to exploiting areas they control.
Houthi’s unlawfully-imposed customs duties yielded in an added value of 100 percent for some commodities, raising the cost of living for Yemenis.
Not to mention, Houthis constantly practice blackmail against traders whether they own large or small businesses, further straining the economy.
A large part of these collected funds are pumped into Houthi movement banks to finance its war effort, as well as increase its cash reserves in secret locations in its birthplace, Saada.
Houthis halted all public payroll for employees in their areas, restricting the flow of cash for Yemenis, said Wasa.
“They (Houthi militants) collect more and more funds in favor of their murky agenda, their destructive self-proclaimed priesthood and the policy of compulsory impoverishment of large segments of state employees,” he added.
He went on recounting Houthi atrocities against Yemenis, saying they all deprive people of the basic elements of decent living.
Yemenis have also faced the spread of diseases and epidemics, all these factors brutally reshaped their community to endure what they labeled a ‘slow death.’
