The Yemeni government denounced the Houthis' escalated threats against international agencies and relief organizations working in areas controlled by the Iran-backed militias.
It also condemned the Houthis' continued seizure of international aid.
Houthis have been snatching international aid sent to Yemenis and funneling them towards their war effort.
The government’s condemnation coincided with the Yemeni army discovering large quantities of aid held up in liberated areas in the Sirwah district, in western Marib.
Video footage was released by the army showing piles of international food aid confiscated by the Houthis from liberated areas.
Yemeni Minister of Local Administration Abdul Raqeeb Fateh denounced what he described as “the systematic threatening and extortion” by the Houthi coup militias against UN and international humanitarian organizations, teams, and UN missions operating in coup-held governorates.”
Fateh, in a statement, describe the Houthi actions as "terrorist" and that their blatant interference in the work of relief organizations undermines humanitarian efforts and negatively affects Yemen’s poor.
He held the Houthis responsible for inhibiting relief work in unliberated areas.
He called on relief organizations to continue their work because the humanitarian need in Yemen calls for concerted international efforts, but deplored international silence against Houthi violations.
Fateh reiterated that the government supports all donors and UN and international organizations in implementing their humanitarian projects and programs in Yemen.
Houthis, in Sanaa and other areas under their control, have imposed a curfew that affected the operation of UN and international agencies under the pretext that some of their personell are infected with the novel coronavirus.
They issued a decree which stipulates curbing the movement of international staff and imposes compulsory home stay on them.
The UN, for its part, denied any of its staffers in Sanaa were infected by COVID-19.
In February, the World Food Program reached 12.4 million Yemenis with general food assistance, achieving 95 percent of the operational plan. Of those reached, 9.4 million people received in-kind food assistance, 2.6 million people received commodity vouchers and 429,807 people received cash transfers.
The Yemeni government, however, claims that 30 percent of aid is being funneled to the Houthi war effort.
