The Yemeni government condemned on Saturday the Iran-backed Houthi militias for their looting of currency exchange shops and businesses in areas under their control.
The Houthis justified their illicit activity and looting of millions of dollars a day, citing new bank notes.
Yemen’s Information Minister Moammar al-Eyrani slammed the militias, saying only mafias and gangs commit such acts.
He noted that the Houthis have intensified these criminal practices and tightened economic restrictions as part of a policy of deliberately impoverishing the people and crippling economic life in the war-torn country.
Such policies are aimed at creating despair among unemployed people to push them into joining the Houthi ranks as a last resort to provide for their families, the minister explained.
He urged the international community, starting with United Nations envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths, to intervene immediately to stop these crimes and violations against the people.
