Yemenis complained: Houthis monopolize cooking gas supply in Sanaa
Locals told Asharq Al-Awsat that Houthi militias authorities have increase the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders that is known as cooking gas, in the controlled area.
Thus, purchasing a gas canister in the Houthi-run Yemeni capital, Sanaa, is 180% more expensive than in the close government-controlled governorate of Marib.
Therefore, the severe rise in prices caused a lack crisis while international reports are alerting that a valued 20 million Yemenis could not be capable to guarantee their meals this Ramadan.
Sanaa-based sources informed Asharq Al-Awsat that millions of those living under militia rule, since last Saturday, have been struggling with a cooking gas shortage coupled with hiked prices of available supplies.
Sources also said that many residents suspect that Houthis are behind the shortage, clarifying that the militia could use the crisis to vend its supply by exaggerated taxes on the black market.
Blocking the delivery of supplies
Moreover, Houthi officials who working at the distribution of cooking gas in areas controlled by the Iran-backed group’s intentionally block, a few days ago, the distribution of supplies to all Sanaa’s districts and neighborhoods.
Unfortunately, this situation forced several families who wait the arrival of the Islam’s holy month of fasting, Ramadan, to go to the black market vendors to purchase the supply of gas at doubled prices.
Otherwise, Sanaa is suffering from a crippling fuel crisis with the disappearance of supplies from official stations.
The prosperous of the black market
Furthermore, locals complained that Houthi-monopolized black market has been prosperous by vending large supplies of fuel and gas byproducts at expensive prices.
A civil servant of the education sector in Houthi-run areas, who required anonymity, informed Asharq Al-Awsat; Yemenis are sure that Houthis stand to gain the most from crises they create.
For Yemenis, the fuel and gas crises made by Houthis would aggravate the previously enormous fight that they are facing because of poor economic and living conditions.
