At least 78 people have been killed in a stampede in Yemen, Houthi rebels say. The director of the health authority in the capital Sanaa, Mutahar al-Maruni, said this on Thursday evening to the rebel-affiliated television channel Al-Masirah. Dozens of other people were also injured. According to the Houthis, there was a deadly struggle to distribute donations late at night.
According to the Houthis’ Saba news agency, a spokesman for the local interior ministry said some traders had distributed donations without prior coordination. There was then a mass panic. Some local media reported that the Houthis also fired shots.
Crowd of people at donation distribution
In videos intended to show the scenes after the incident, numerous bodies lay on the ground. One video showed dozens of people crowding into a confined space while shouting loudly, some appearing to literally drown in the crowd. The tragedy is said to have occurred during the ongoing Islamic fasting month of Ramadan at a donation distribution point in the Yemeni capital.
The head of the Supreme Political Council, Mahdi al-Maschat, called for an investigation into the incident. A designated commission arrived at the scene of the incident that evening, according to a Saba report. Two suspected dealers were arrested.
Civil war has been raging since 2014
Yemen is located in the south of the Arabian Peninsula. The Shia Houthi rebels have taken over large parts of northern Yemen in their insurgency that has been ongoing since 2014 and also control the capital Sanaa. The rebels are backed by Iran with a Shiite majority. Saudi Arabia has been fighting the Houthis since 2015 along with allies besides the government in the country.
One of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters is happening in Yemen, mainly due to the consequences of the civil war. About 21 million people are in need of some form of humanitarian assistance and protection.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
