At a time when the Yemeni people are suffering from a stifling humanitarian crisis, exacerbated by the war that has been going on for years, reliable sources revealed that the Houthi group has allocated huge sums of money to celebrate the anniversary of the Prophet’s birthday, in a series of celebrations that included the capital, Sana’a, and many of the subject provinces. For their control.

Millions of dollars are wasted on celebrations

According to these sources, the group has allocated huge sums of money from the general budget, which already suffers from a large deficit, to finance these lavish celebrations. These celebrations included holding funeral gatherings, distributing meals, decorating streets and buildings, holding speech parties, and other activities that consume huge sums of money.

Coercive levies on citizens

To finance these celebrations, the Houthi group resorted to imposing coercive levies on citizens and merchants, at gunpoint, which increased the suffering of residents who were already suffering from high prices and scarcity of goods. Many citizens have complained about these levies, stressing that they come at the expense of their basic needs.

Conflict with the humanitarian situation

This financial waste comes at a time when the Yemeni people are suffering from a severe humanitarian crisis, with millions of Yemenis suffering from hunger and malnutrition, a lack of clean water, power outages, and the spread of diseases. The health sector also suffers from a shortage of medicines and medical equipment, which has worsened health conditions.

Angry reactions

These celebrations sparked anger and resentment among the Yemeni people, who considered that these celebrations came at the expense of their suffering, and that the money spent on these celebrations could have been used to provide the basic needs of citizens.

A citizen in Sanaa said: “While we are suffering from hunger and disease, the Houthis are pumping millions of dollars into celebrations. This is unacceptable, and confirms that they do not care about the suffering of the people.”

United Nations report

This financial waste coincides with a United Nations report that warned of the worsening humanitarian crisis in Yemen, indicating that millions of Yemenis are on the brink of famine, and that the country is witnessing the highest rate of malnutrition in the world.

Observers believe that this behavior on the part of the Houthi group reflects their indifference to the suffering of the Yemeni people, and that they prefer to spend money on religious celebrations and rituals rather than meeting the basic needs of citizens. They also believe that this behavior aims to enhance the group’s influence and popularity, and to gain the support of some social segments.

The Houthi group’s insistence on holding lavish celebrations under these difficult circumstances is considered a form of mockery of the suffering of the Yemeni people, and confirms that the group’s priorities are not the interest of the people, but rather enhancing its influence and its own interests.

Source: Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, adapted