Houthi destructive practices against Yemen's economy

The internationally recognized Yemeni government stated on Tuesday that the Central Bank’s measures have achieved their objectives. This comes as a response to the criticism faced by the government for agreeing to an “economic de-escalation” agreement which was seen as a retreat from previous decisions.

Information Minister Mu’ammar al-Eryani said that the Central Bank’s measures represented “a move to pressure the Houthi militia to stop its destructive practices against the banking and financial sector, to limit the catastrophic consequences of the halt in oil exports on the economy and national currency, and to improve the living conditions of citizens across the country.”

He added that “the Central Bank’s measures have confirmed the success of the firm policy in pressuring the Houthis to respond to peace efforts more than any other pressure, when it touched on their sensitive points (the economic file.(”

Hans Grundberg, the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, had announced last week an agreement between the internationally recognized Yemeni government and the Houthi group on measures to de-escalate the economic and banking situation and expand direct flights from Sana’a to include Cairo and India.

He pointed out that “any concessions made by the government are not a surrender to Houthi blackmail, but for the sake of the Yemeni people.”

Al-Eryani said: “The reactions of the Houthis to the crisis have clearly revealed their trafficking in war and their looting of billions of riyals, which they have directed to finance their terrorist activities, instead of using them to pay the salaries of employees and improve living conditions in the areas under their control.”

Regarding the crisis of Yemenia Airways, al-Eryani explained that “the resumption of flights between Sana’a and Jordan and the operation of flights to Cairo and India is an extension of the facilities that the government had provided in the UN truce, keen to enable citizens, whether sick or seeking job opportunities and education, to travel.”