The Yemeni government has condemned the Houthis’ closure of Sanaa airport to relief flights, including those of the United Nations, accusing them of continuing to trade in the suffering of Yemenis.
The government, in a series of tweets, said that the closure of Sanaa airport by Houthis is “a desperate attempt to cover up their theft of more than 50 billion riyals of oil derivative proceeds in Hodeidah, earmarked for paying the salaries of civilian employees in Yemen.”
It added it has approved the UN envoy’s proposal to reopen Sanaa airport to direct international commercial flights, for Yemeni airlines, more than four months ago, confirming the Houthis’ refusal to do so.
The Yemeni government clarified that from January to August 2020, the amount of fuel imported to Yemen increased by 13% compared to the same period in 2019, noting that the current fuel crisis in Houthi-controlled areas is a systematic fabrication.
In another tweet, it said that more than 2.3 million tons of petroleum products were imported to Yemen from January to August sufficient for Yemen’s needs for more than 11 months, of which more than half was distributed to Houthi-controlled areas, most of which arrived through the port of Hodeidah.
Earlier, Houthis announced the suspension of all UN and humanitarian agency flights to Sanaa International Airport, blaming a lack of fuel.
Houthi leaders informed UN agencies and international organizations operating in Yemen that they had decided to close Sanaa airport, starting Wednesday, alleging a shortage in fuel needed to operate the airport.
Densely populated cities in Houthi-controlled areas have suffered from severe fuel shortages over the last couple of months, triggering long lines of vehicles at oil stations and a black market where oil is sold at inflated prices.
Nevertheless, the government said imported fuel through the Houthi-held seaport in Hodeidah was enough to meet demand for at least seven months.
