Iran-backed Houthis destroy health sector in Yemen, loot revenues and organizations’ support (Report)

The funds of the UN organizations provided to the health sector in Houthi-controlled areas sparked major disputes between two ministers in the coup government. The two sides exchanged accusations. According to reliable sources.

The revenues of Dhamar General Hospital for the first quarter of last year amounted to YR221 million and 667 thousand, of which 57 million and 295 thousand were provided by organizations, and about 28 million and 926 thousand were spent only as operating expenses, while the militia leaders stole about YR192 million and 741 thousand. The sources said.

The militia were not satisfied with destroying the health sector, stopping its operational allocations, and depriving the population of access to health services, but rather looted the resources of hospitals and foreign financial aid provided for health care. The sources revealed, adding that the Houthis spend sums in the names of fake and closed hospitals that use military barracks, and they pay the salary of fake contractors so that the money goes to pockets of powerful leaders.

It pointed out that the Houthi finance minister spent YR40 million, under an oral directive to Al-Jawf Hospital, which was destroyed by the militia during the war.

The Houthi group spent YR179 million to the Republican Hospital Authority in Saada for the year 2021 in the name of dues to contractors, while the revenues went to the pockets and accounts of Houthi leaders. The sources confirmed, pointing out that UNICEF, the Family Association and other organizations provided YR353 million and 853 thousand in financial support to Saada Hospital in 2020, but the militia disbursed it to 179 loyalists out of a total of 539 employees are living without salaries.

The militia was accused of causing the collapse of the health care system in Yemen, as local and international reports confirm the death of 131,000 Yemenis due to widespread diseases, the destruction of hospitals that have become unqualified to respond to the contagious epidemic, and the absence of cadres who migrated due to Houthi harassment.

Medical sources in Ibb Governorate confirmed that the militia had taken control of Al-Manar Hospital by force, appointed Houthi leader Jamal Al-Shami as its director instead of Ibrahim Mahrous.

Thousands of health sector employees are facing death as a result of the militia's suspension of their salaries for more than 6 years.