The World Health Organization (WHO) indefinitely suspended staff activity in areas held by the Iran-backed Houthis militias in Yemen on Saturday over their insistence on concealing the actual figures of infections and fatalities from the novel coronavirus.
The directive affects the provinces of Sanaa, Ibb, Hodeidah and Saada.
The move is aimed at pressing the militias to be more transparent about suspected coronavirus cases.
“All movements, meetings or any other activity” for staff in those four areas were paused until further notice, read the directive seen by Asharq Al-Awsat.
The WHO has temporarily paused its movements in northern areas due to "credible threats and perceived risks which could have an impact on staff security", it said in response to a Reuters query, adding that operations have not been suspended.
The legitimate government has accused Houthi authorities of covering up an outbreak in Sanaa.
Infections are on the rise and local medical sources said the outbreak was spreading from Saada, the Houthi stronghold, towards Hodeidah, home to three ports on the Red Sea.
Other sources said some 60 infections were confirmed at Kuwait University Hospital alone. The facility has been dedicated to treat coronavirus patients.
Residents and medical sources revealed that the neighborhood of Sawad Hanash in northern Sanaa has now become the epicenter of the outbreak. A man had recently hidden away his son who had secretly returned to Yemen from abroad. Both have died and some 35 people they had come in contact with have been forced to isolate at home.
The local neighborhood official in Sanaa also issued a warning to the people against coming close to the homes surrounding the Khawla School for girls for their safety.
The official released the names of families that have been placed in home quarantine. Their homes are being guarded by Houthi militants. He said that the authorities will provide the families with their daily needs to avoid them leaving isolation.
One resident revealed that his uncle had passed away from the virus, revealing that several of the relatives and acquaintances he had come in contact with had contracted the disease. They have been tested and are now self-isolating at home.
The Houthi health authorities had advised residents to remain home and respect preventive measures, warning that their lives were in danger after cases were reported in Sanaa.
The Houthis had also locked down over ten neighborhoods in Sanaa to disinfect them. They raided buildings to arrest people suspected of being infected with the virus, but they have so far refused to impose a total curfew because they fear they would lose the levies they impose on various shops and businessowners.
The legitimate government, meanwhile, reported on Sunday 17 new coronavirus cases and one death, raising the total number of infections to 51 and total fatalities to eight.
The emergency coronavirus committee said on Twitter that there are ten new cases in the interim capital, Aden, three in Hadhramaut, two in Lahj and two in Taiz.
