Yemeni Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik held Iran-backed Houthi militias responsible for leaving some half a million civil servants unpaid for over two years, despite them disbursing salaries regularly to workers at coup-tailored civil centers.
Abdulmalik gave his remarks at a presser held after he hosted the Swedish Envoy to the Middle East and North Africa, Peter Semneby, and a Swedish foreign ministry envoy, Hans Grande Berg, in Aden.
The Swedish delegation’s visit is likely linked to Stockholm’s efforts alongside the international community to arrange for future Yemeni talks.
Sweden had earlier announced its readiness to host Yemeni peace negotiations.
In the meeting, the Yemeni Prime Minister reviewed the challenges faced by the government, notably the deterioration of the economic and humanitarian situation, the maintenance of market supplies and food needs and the building of strategic stocks of essential materials.
Abdulmalik explained that government efforts are being spent on maintaining market supplies and food goods.
The government is also trying to secure strategic stockpile of basic materials, he added.
“The government is focusing its efforts on serving Yemenis effectively across all governorates without exception,” he affirmed while reviewing undertakings to shoulder the economic and financial sectors.
Economic emergency action focuses most on stabilizing a crumbling local currency in hopes of lowering commodity prices.
The prime minister stressed that his government worked to loosen up issuing bank credit for traders to ease the flow of basic food import seeing it as an effective method for lowering food prices.
He pointed out that the government has worked hard on facilitating the work of international relief organizations.
“Houthi militias are trying to prolong the conflict in Yemen, not bothering for the suffering of Yemenis,” he said while revealing that the Iran-backed group has established a shadow public sector.
The Swedish delegation is the first to visit the city of Aden and meet the new prime minister since the decision was issued in mid-last month to host the Yemeni talks.
