Human rights official: Houthi militia loots aid provided to flood victims in Mahwit

A human rights official said that the Houthi militia is looting local aid provided to those affected by floods and destroying dams in Al Mahwit Governorate, northern Yemen. It also continues to prevent the work of humanitarian organizations and charitable societies that operate far from it, amid the continued suffering of those affected.

"Those affected by the heavy rains and the collapse of dams in Mahwit are still in an inhumane situation," added Eshraq Al-Maqtari, a member of the National Investigation Committee, in a post on the X platform, as roads continue to be cut off and families are displaced.

She explained that these circumstances are met with the concealment of the truth by the Houthis as well as international and regional organizations that present themselves as specialized and concerned with humanitarian relief and its file, which is part of the human rights file.

She confirmed, citing complaints from those affected, that the Houthi committees (a list of their names is attached) “reject any humanitarian intervention except through them and monopolize any intervention, even from philanthropists, and loot it and distribute it to whomever they want to gain loyalties,” noting that they have seized local relief convoys from the residents of the Bani Saad, Al-Qanawis, and Ma’in districts.

Al-Maqtari pointed out in another post, "Thousands of women, children and men from Malhan in Mahwit are still sane, displaced and unfortunately absent from us," adding that "the most affected areas have not received any aid to date in the isolation of Al-Qibla, such as (Al-Medwar, Al-Qarana, Al-Bara'iya, Bani Sha'i, Hawra, Al-Mahras, and Al-Sharfi)."

The human rights official stressed the importance of the legitimate government, the international community, and all those concerned with human rights paying attention to the issue of these affected people and their suffering.

Those affected by the heavy rains and the collapse of dams in #Mahwit are still in an inhumane situation, while the truth is being hidden by... #Houthis, as well as international and regional organizations that present themselves as specialized and concerned with humanitarian relief and its file, which is part of the human rights file.
Roads are cut off, homeless people are in an unsafe situation… pic.twitter.com/tvQCcXabfF

— Eshraq Almaqtari (@EshraqAlmaqtari) September 13, 2024

Late last August, the Malhan District in Al Mahwit Governorate witnessed heavy rains and torrential floods that caused the collapse of water dams and major rock slides, leading to the death and disappearance of dozens and the destruction and damage of hundreds of homes and properties, in a disaster whose repercussions are still ongoing to this moment, amid a blackout by the Houthi militia authorities controlling the governorate, on the reality of the humanitarian situation in those rugged and isolated geographical areas.