Originally posted to The Middle East Monitor website, 4 June 2021
Hundreds of Yemenis in Taiz yesterday protested against corruption and the high cost of living, Anadolu reported.
Human rights activist Wafaa Al-Silwi said: “We went out to demonstrate because of the hunger, corruption and suffering we are experiencing in Taiz Governorate,” adding: “Enough with corruption. We are dying of hunger, high prices, poverty and disease.”
Al-Silwi called on the Yemeni government to reform the living conditions in Taiz, curb the deteriorating value of the currency and hold the corrupt accountable.
“We will continue our demonstrations until our demands are met. We don’t want seats or positions, we just want to live,” she added.
Protester Mujeeb Al-Maqtar demanded the departure of the corrupt managers and officials from state institutions, including civilian, military and security personnel.
Two weeks ago, the city of Taiz witnessed several protests condemning the deterioration of the living conditions and the spread of corruption.
On Tuesday, the governor of Taiz dismissed the directors of transport and electricity, Muhammad Al-Naqeeb and Aref Abdel Hamid, amid the anti-corruption protests.
Impoverished Yemen has been beset by violence and chaos since 2014, when the Houthis overran much of the country, including the capital, Sanaa. The crisis escalated in 2015 when a Saudi-led military coalition launched a devastating air campaign aimed at rolling back Houthi territorial gains.
The war, in which the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK) back the Saudi-led coalition, has killed more than 100,000 people and pushed millions to the brink of famine, according to the United Nations (UN) official data.
Link to the original post: https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20210604-yemen-hundreds-protest-against-corruption-high-cost-of-living/
