Sanaa National Museum in the Yemeni capital shut down on Tuesday for the first time since its opening 54 years ago due to a funding crisis.
The museum, the country’s largest, went bankrupt after the Iran-backed Houthis stopped supporting its budget. The museum administration could no longer afford paying staff and bills.
The General Antiquities Authority, which is run by the Houthis, announced that another museum, the Heritage Folk Museum, in Sanaa will also be shut due to a lack of funds.
In a statement, it apologized for the closure, saying it was beyond its control and that it was working on addressing the financial problems so that the museums can be reopened “as soon as possible.”
The authority did not clarify where the revenues from the museums were going, raising questions that they were seized by the Houthis. It also did not discuss the annual budget, which should have been adopted by the illegal Houthi government.
The closure of the museums came as a surprise given that the authority had announced less than two months ago that they were receiving an unprecedented number of visitors.
Sanaa National Museum was established in 1971 at an Imami palace that was once used by the country’s former rulers who were ousted in the 1960s. Once called the Dar al-Shukr, or Palace of Gratefulness, it lies in the heart of the capital.
It boasted two main sections, one covering ancient artifacts and the other on national heritage. It also featured several sections on Islamic artifacts.
It was moved to a larger building just next to its former location to accommodate its growing collection. The government was planning on expanding it but the Houthi coup aborted all plans.
