The internationally recognized Yemeni government has renewed its accusations of economic sabotage against the Iran-backed Houthis militias, who have deliberately created a fuel crisis in areas under their control to reap doubled profits on supplies they sell on the black market.
“Houthis are selling most of the fuel imports that arrive through Hodeidah seaport in the black market,” the Supreme Economic Council of the Yemeni government said on Saturday.
Fuel flow indicators in Yemen during the first half of April showed the militias have caused the fuel crisis in regions under their control to revive the black market and plunder the public to finance what they call “the war effort,” the council said.
Over 276,000 metric tons of fuel have been imported in the first half of April, enough to meet the fuel needs across the country for 20 days, it added.
However, 70% of the fuel has been transported to Houthi-run regions, an average of 12,000 metric tons a day, but the militias have sold it to the black market, it revealed.
The Houthis have also hiked fuel prices by 150% in their regions, the council said, accusing the militias of using the humanitarian file to mislead and blackmail the international community and agencies.
The militias have been causing crises as part of their policies to starve the people, the council stressed.
“Despite the inflow of fuel supplies exceeding civilian needs, the Houthis insist on strengthening the black market, exploiting the people and trading in the human suffering they caused,” the council reaffirmed in a tweet.
Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani echoed the statements made by the council and reasserted that the Houthis are capitalizing on the pain of Yemenis.
While Houthis continue to seize and hoard fuel supplies in their warehouses, the Aden-based government is working relentlessly to ease the suffering of Yemenis by ensuring it does what it can to keep oil products flowing into the war-torn country.
