September Net

By Hesham al-Tameemi

Health system in the capital Sana’a and other areas that are under the control of Houthi militia is on the brink of collapse. The essential services are also inaccessible, infrastructure subjected to destruction and public and private institutions are being looted, while living and economic conditions of citizens is very deteriorated.

Sadly, people in the capital Sana’a and the rest of areas controlled by the militia are living in misery and are extremely poor. Amid the outbreak of epidemics and diseases and the unavailability of medicines, due to the militia’s looting of assistances provided to combat epidemics, its extortion and intimidation of the people.

As the holy month of fasting Ramadan falls, citizens in Houthi-held areas suffer real hardship; prevalence of diseases and unavailability of medical assistances offered by International organizations. The Houthis have seized and looted such aids and are controlling over medicines market.

Sana’a residents told September Net about the atmosphere in their city in the times of the militia and how health conditions are in Houthi-held areas.

Cholera Outbreak

The capital Sana’a is witnessing tragic situation. The flooding of raw sewage on most streets and neighborhoods is continued, creating a looming environment catastrophe in the city.

Local residents said sewer damage is increasing day by day, threatening the closure of some houses and streets in the capital.

“Sana’a isn’t as it was before, cholera is rapidly spreading to every house,” said S. A. a resident in Al-Jaraf neighborhood, and whose initials only given to ensure his safety.

He adds: “People are really depressed, no work, no source of income, even we’re unable to afford for medicine or to provide living for our families.”

S.A. called for an urgent solutions to combat the epidemic and through trustworthy organizations, not as the previous period.

“Cholera has doubled citizens’ pain and their misery, it outbreaks alarmingly, reaches every home and excludes no one,” he said.

60% of health facilities at risk of closing

Cholera Death toll reached 572 cases and 296494 recorded cases infected in all provinces, according medical sources at WHO.

The organization registered 108 deaths in the capital Sana’a and its countryside, followed by Ibb province with 87 death cases. The remaining figures shared by the rest 22 provinces.

Another medical sources in Sana’a said that the number of suspected cases in Sana since the start of 2019 reached 147, 927 cases.

The recent data shows that 45% of health facilities operate only with half of its capacity due to shortage in medical supplies, the destruction reached hundreds of facilities, depriving millions of population from receiving health care. in addition to the militia’s looting and seizure of health facilities and medical centers.

According to media outlets, UN has warned that 60% of cholera treatment centers at the risk of closure unless donors convert their pledges announced to Yemen in February into cash.

Seizure & looting of relief aids

Houthi militia continues its abuses, seizure of medical, food and medicine relief assistances, denying them access to areas it controls unless they get huge amount of money, called by the militia “taxes”, turning blind eyes to people’s suffering and essential needs to such assistances.

Local sources Ibb, central Yemen, have confirmed that the Houthi militia has been seizing a shipment loaded with medicines for cancer patients at the city’s eastern entrance for third week in row, demanding huge amounts as “taxes” to allow it in.

The medicine shipments provided by Ministry of Health in the temporary capital of Aden are getting ravaged as a result of its detention in an inappropriate conditions for more than three weeks.

More than 3000 cancer patients are to benefit from the confiscated shipment. Their lives are on the line as 50% of cancer medicines have been consumed from the storage of Al-Amal Specialized Oncology Center, the only center in Ibb and which is a branch for National Cancer Control Foundation.

The Houthi militia has sold medical aid shipment laden with cholera cures in return for YR 60 millions in Sana’a. They sold it even amid the strongest return of cholera in its areas. They also seized medical assistances in Ibb allocated by International agencies to Al-Jomhori Public Hospital in Sana’a.

Looting Private Hospitals

Even though it offers free treatment and medical services to their war-wounded militiamen, the Houthis stormed and looted the private hospitals in the areas under its control.

The Houthi militia took over 6 private hospitals in Sana’a in the past period and employed their supervisors and militiamen in it. Due to the militia’s ill- behaviors and mistreatment towards medical and health crews, large number had to to move from their areas.

According to Sana’a-based medical sources for “September Net”, the Houthi militia had looted equipment and medicines from the private hospitals, and refused to afford the costs of medical services provided to their war-wounded militiamen, most of which received services and medicines with high costs.

Doctors also confirmed that the Houthi rebels forced private hospitals to offer treatment to militia’s wounded elements who returned from warfronts, besides the illegal amount and levies they forcibly impose on hospital under various expediencies including the so-called “war expenses”.