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Yemen Insurgents Accused of Raising Gas Cylinder's Prices

Cooking gas cylinders are lined up outside a gas station amid supply shortage in Sanaa, Yemen November 7, 2017. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah Reuters
Cooking gas cylinders are lined up outside a gas station amid supply shortage in Sanaa, Yemen November 7, 2017. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah Reuters
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Yemen Insurgents Accused of Raising Gas Cylinder's Prices

Cooking gas cylinders are lined up outside a gas station amid supply shortage in Sanaa, Yemen November 7, 2017. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah Reuters
Cooking gas cylinders are lined up outside a gas station amid supply shortage in Sanaa, Yemen November 7, 2017. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah Reuters

The price of a gas cylinder in Tihama and Azal districts in Yemen, under Houthi control, has reached about 8,000 Yemeni Riyal, given that its price and distribution cost in liberated areas within the legitimate government's control is around 950 Yemeni Riyal, according to a Yemeni legitimate government official.

Hodeidah chief district, Walid al-Qadimi, warned against Houthi militias profiting from billions of Riyals that result from the difference between the gas canister's price after militias forced companies and distributors to raise the prices.

Qadimi indicated that the difference between the canister's governmental price and the price in the market is about 7,000 Yemeni Riyal for a single gas cylinder.

He suggested imposing a unified price for the cylinder in addition to its distribution cost to reach Tihama and Azal regions. He added that in case the companies increased the prices, the government will have the right to stop supplying these companies with gas.

Qadimi told Asharq al-Awsat that any delay in measures to stop Houthis from stealing money will increase the burden on citizens. He added that militias are using this money in battles against the legitimate government to support their militias, buy more weapons, and recruit members.

Rights activist Abdul Hafiz al-Hutami stated that Houthi militias are punishing citizens in governorates under their control.

Houthi-affiliated black market merchants are selling oil and gas at very high prices. Gas' prices had multiplied 500 percent, even though it had reached government controlled Marib, according to Hutami.

Hutami pointed out that a gas canister is sold for 1,000 Yemeni Riyal, which amounts militias' profits to over 2 million Yemeni Riyal per month.

"Citizens are using plastic wastes and wood in Hodeidah, Ibb, Dhumar, Sanaa, Amran and Hajjah, while international organizations are silent before these humanitarian crimes in Yemen," said Hutami.

The activist also indicated that militias banned 40 oil tank trucks from reaching Ibb governorate and is preventing the gas company from selling at the price used in Marib.

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Arab World

Army Defuses Tensions in Northern Lebanon Caused by Syrian Coast Unrest

Lebanese soldiers are deployed in Beirut. (Reuters file)
Lebanese soldiers are deployed in Beirut. (Reuters file)
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Army Defuses Tensions in Northern Lebanon Caused by Syrian Coast Unrest

Lebanese soldiers are deployed in Beirut. (Reuters file)
Lebanese soldiers are deployed in Beirut. (Reuters file)

The Lebanese army defused on Sunday tensions in the northern city of Tripoli sparked by the clashes along the Syrian coast.

The army deployed in areas separating Sunni and Alawite neighborhoods in Tripoli overnight on Friday to contain any tensions from the violence in neighboring Syria.

Angry protesters had taken to the streets of Tripoli after news broke out over the stabbing of a minor from Syria’s Idlib. Lebanon’s National News Agency later reported that the minor was actually from Lebanon.

Soon after, news circulated on social media that Ahmed Bitar, a man from the predominantly Alawite neighborhood of Jabal Mohsen in Tripoli, was behind the attack.

The protesters blocked the Baqqar road leading to Jabal Mohsen, while tensions were high in the Qobbeh neighborhood, as the people called for the arrest of the perpetrator.

The tensions boiled over into a gunfight, sparking panic among the people. The army soon deployed heavily in the area and restored calm.

The Supreme Alawite Council warned in a statement that “civil peace and security stability were a red line.” It revealed that Bitar had complied with calls to turn himself over to the authorities.

“We fully trust that the security forces will carry out their duties to reveal the circumstances of the crime and uncover the truth,” it said.

“Tripoli has been and will continue to be a model of national unity that will shun strife,” it added.

A security source told Asharq Al-Awsat that the tensions in Tripoli were stoked by social media posts. No foreign meddling or political incitement were behind them.

The army moved quickly to contain the tensions, deploying heavily in Tripoli. Sunni and Alawite figures in the city were contacted to help defuse the tensions and prevent the unrest in Syria from spilling over into Lebanon.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Syrian Alawites sought refuge in northern Lebanon to escape the violence along the coast.

Security sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Syrians were entering through illegal crossings and heading to predominantly Alawite villages or Jabal Mohsen.

No exact figures have been tallied because the people are entering through illegal crossings, they added.

Media reports and local sources have said over 10,000 people have entered from Syria in the past three days.