The novel coronavirus continued to spread in the Yemeni capital Sanaa with cases being reported in the Iran-backed Houthi militias’ central prison.
The legitimate government slammed the Houthis for concealing information about the outbreak in regions under their control, including Sanaa, accusing them of committing “genocide” against the people for failing to respond to the latest peace initiative proposed by United Nations envoy, Martin Griffiths.
Yemeni rights sources confirmed that the outbreak has started to spread in the central prison, the Houthis’ main detention facility, saying the militias have failed to take any necessary preventive measures.
The League of Mothers of the Disappeared, a rights group, said in a statement that it had received an urgent notice on Monday that two abductees held in the prison are suspected of having contracted the virus.
It identified them as Noureddine Marzieh and Mohammed Wasel, saying their health was deteriorating. They have been moved the facility’s quarantine ward.
The League expressed its deep concern over the safety of the captives, some of whom have been kidnapped for over four years without charge. It urged the immediate release of the captives, pleading with the international agencies, the UN and Griffiths to assume their responsibilities over this issue.
Rights sources said that it was not too late for the Houthis to take the “right decision” and release the prisoners before the virus spreads even more in the overcrowded jail.
Virus claims Houthi lives
As the Houthis continue to hide information about the outbreak – they have only acknowledged four cases – Yemeni activists and residents confirmed a number of infections, including among Houthi members and loyalists.
The sources confirmed that COVID-19 claimed the life of prominent Houthi, Shafii Nasher, who was appointed to the militias’ so-called foreign ministry. Ironically, he had previously called on the people to head to the battlefronts and fight for the militias, saying it was the best way to avoid infection.
Activists also confirmed the death of lawyer Abdulaziz al-Samawi and several military and security officials from among Houthi ranks, including Ahmed al-Jandabi, Aref al-Nusseiry and Abdulmalik al-Qara, the warden of Habra prison in Sanaa. He is accused of torturing imprisoned journalists, activists and detainees.
Another fatality from the coronavirus is Abdulrahman al-Mahbashi, a member of the Houthi-controlled parliament, Abdulwahed al-Adeni, an official at the Houthi foreign ministry, and judges Fadel al-Onsi and Mohammed al-Sharfi, among others.
Yemeni health minister Nasser Baoum had urged the Houthis to disclose the number of coronavirus infections and deaths, stressing the need to keep channels of communication open between all provinces to protect the people and better combat the outbreak.
He warned that failing to respect preventive measures will only help the spread of the disease. He said that his ministry was cooperating with donors and agencies to support government efforts to fight outbreak and help manage the crisis.