The Yemeni government has condemned the campaign of abuse and incitement by Iranian-backed Houthi militias against international relief organizations in Yemen, following recent statements by Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Ursula Mueller, which revealed some of the militia's practices in areas under its control. International organizations are seeking alternatives to ensure that aid reaches the needy.
Yemeni Information Minister Muammar al-Iryani strongly condemned the militia's campaign of abuse and incitement against aid organizations. And turn a blind eye to its corruption and systematic looting of humanitarian and food aid that is supposed to be directed to millions of people in need.
Al-Eryani warned of the danger of organized political and media incitement campaigns on the safety of the crews of the organizations operating in the areas controlled by the Houthi militias and in their ability to perform their noble humanitarian tasks, thus ensuring impartiality, transparency, integrity and humanitarian aid to those who deserve it.
He renewed his call on international organizations working in the field of humanitarian relief, to coordinate with the legitimate government, and work to find alternatives to ensure access to aid for millions of Yemenis who are below the poverty line and famine, as a result of the war triggered by the Houthi coup, and the continued looting of aid to finance its war on Yemenis.
Muller recently condemned the Houthi militia practices on the humanitarian side, and hindered the routine access of humanitarian aid to the beneficiaries. It expelled some of the staff of those organizations and United Nations staff without any reason, intervened in humanitarian operations and attempted to influence the selection of beneficiaries of such assistance and implementing partners, and attempted to oblige humanitarian organizations to operate in conditions contrary to humanitarian principles. If accepted, it will result in loss of project funding and closure.
Mueller explained that the cases of targeting the Houthis during the past three months amounted to 60 attacks, threats and arrests of cadres working in the humanitarian field.