Houthi neglect threatens Sana'a residents: a crisis in services and infrastructure
Anger and anxiety are mounting in the Yemeni capital, Sana'a, which is under the control of the Houthi group, due to the continuous and alarming deterioration of basic services and infrastructure, posing a direct and real threat to the lives of millions of residents. This tragic situation is the result of years of deliberate neglect and mismanagement, with routine maintenance of vital facilities ceasing, turning the city's streets and neighborhoods into potential death traps, whether through the collapse of dilapidated buildings, the spread of epidemics, or the dangers of flash floods.
Context of the crisis and the deterioration of public services
Since the Houthi group seized control of the capital, Sana'a, in September 2014, state institutions have experienced a sharp decline in performance, and operational budgets allocated for road maintenance, sewage systems, and stormwater drainage have been suspended. Instead of directing the substantial revenues collected from taxes, customs duties, and various fees to serve the citizens, economic and human rights reports indicate that these resources are being channeled into supporting the group's war effort, leaving the city's infrastructure vulnerable to complete collapse.
Documented facts indicate that Old Sana'a, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, suffers particularly from this neglect, as hundreds of historic houses were damaged and some collapsed on the heads of their inhabitants during past rainy seasons, without any serious intervention from the de facto authorities to restore or protect them, reflecting the extent of indifference to human heritage and the lives of civilians.
Catastrophic health and environmental risks
The threat extends beyond buildings and roads, encompassing an impending environmental and health catastrophe. With garbage piling up in the streets and sewage treatment plants out of service due to fuel shortages and lack of maintenance, Sana'a has become a breeding ground for diseases and epidemics such as cholera and dengue fever. This deteriorating health situation coincides with the near-total collapse of the healthcare system, leaving residents unable to cope with any new outbreaks of disease, given the absence of essential medicines and medical supplies.
Humanitarian repercussions and the international stance
Observers of Yemeni affairs emphasize that this continued neglect is exacerbating the humanitarian crisis, which the United Nations describes as the worst in the world. Allowing infrastructure to deteriorate without fundamental solutions not only threatens social stability in the capital but also hinders any future efforts at economic recovery and reconstruction. International and local organizations consistently call for the depoliticization of essential services and for resources to be directed toward salvaging what remains of life in Sana'a, thus protecting civilians who are paying the heaviest price for this ongoing conflict.
