Yemen’s Houthis hold up medical shipment: Source

By Shokri Hussein

ADEN, Yemen

Yemen’s Houthi rebel group has been holding a medical relief shipment in Ibb province, according to a local medical source.

The source, who spoke to Anadolu Agency anonymously due to fears for his safety, said the stalled shipment contained dialysis machines and equipment.

The Houthis, he said, were holding the shipment at a newly-established customs checkpoint where they were levying “illegal tariffs” on commercial traffic.

Earlier this week, the Houthis also reportedly held up a shipment bound for Ibb’s main blood bank, while Yemen’s Health Ministry accused the group of hindering local vaccination campaigns.

Yemen has been wracked by violence since 2014, when the Houthis overran much of the country, including capital Sanaa.

In 2015, Saudi Arabia and its allies launched an air campaign aimed at rolling back Houthi gains in Yemen.