After a stampede, at least 78 people died in Sanaa (the capital of Yemen).
According to Houthi controlled news, dozens more people were injured during an event in which financial aid was distributed in Old City.
In a statement, the Houthi-controlled interior ministry of the country called the incident “tragic”, “painful”, and said it was “a random distribution of money from some merchants with no coordination or organisation with the Ministry of Interior”.
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The merchants were also arrested.
The spokesperson Brigadier Al-Ajri said that an investigation was underway and “we offer our condolences, expressing our deepest sympathy to the families of those who died, and asking Allah Almighty for patience.”
The Associated Press reported that eyewitnesses said the Houthis fired into the air in an attempt to control the crowds. One round was said to have struck an electrical wire, causing it to explode. This caused panic on the ground.
The money given out was 5,000 Yemeni Riyals – approximately PS16.
The Associated Press reported that Houthi rebels had worked to block journalists’ access to the area where the money distribution was taking place.
According to senior health official Motaher al-Marouni, at least 13 injured people were seriously injured.
Since 2014, the Houthis, backed by Iran and based in Sanaa have been controlling Sanaa after overthrowing the internationally recognized government.
Saudi Arabia tried to intervene in 2015. However, the conflict became a proxy-war against Iran and more than 150,000 died as a result. This was one of the worst human disasters on the planet.
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