According to local sources in Yemen, at least five children were killed in the city of Hodeidah by a landmine explosion, planted by Houthis militias earlier.
The sources also pointed out that two other children were injured in the Al-Tahita district in Hodeidah by snipers of the Iranian-backed militias, pointing out that the children have become one of the preferred targets for Houthis militants in recent months.
In the meantime, Yemeni aid organizations accused Houthis of embezzling humanitarian aid, especially with the practice of extortion policy against the organization’s actions in the field of relief, and imposing percentages as a financial share on each project carried out in areas under its control.
Sources from humanitarian organizations working in Yemen noted that in recent years militias have imposed taxes on the work of relief committees, prompting many organizations to relocate their headquarters and zones of activity to areas of legitimate government control.
The sources pointed out that the Houthi’s violations regarding the work of relief organizations were not limited to exploitation and looting of funds and relief materials, but also to try to control the ways and routes of distribution of aid, pointing out that the militia prevents relief staff in areas under its control to conduct any field survey of any area and the selection of beneficiaries.
A World Food Program (WFP) report said over the past few days 40% of Yemeni households live below the minimum daily food needs, especially with high poverty rates.
The report also pointed out that one third of the Yemeni families suffer from the inability to provide sufficient food, especially since the prices during the five years of war increased by up to 400%, which led to the rise in the cost of living in general.
The report pointed out that 20 million Yemenis are in urgent need of food and humanitarian assistance, while 16 million people are suffering from severe food insecurity.
In addition, 2 million children under five years of age are suffering from excessive hunger, along with the spread of many types of infectious diseases, mainly cholera and dengue fever, as well as measles.
Earlier, Yemen’s human rights minister, Muhammad Askar, said the Ansar Allah Group (Houthis) had recruited more than 30,000 children during the war.
Yemen suffers from a war, now in its fifth year, between pro-government and Houthi forces, which have controlled provinces, including the capital Sanaa, since September 2014.
Mr. Askar pointed out in a statement that “Houthi militias recruited more than 30,000 children to fight in its ranks,” and continued that the group “brought these children to the lines of confrontation and military points within the controlled provinces.”
“Houthi militias prevent children from going to school, and take them to the fronts of the fighting without training and rehabilitation… This situation is a time bomb.”
