Sana’a, April 19, 2023 (Xinhua) – The Ministry of Health of the Houthi group in Sana’a (unrecognized) said this evening (Wednesday) that 80 people were killed and more than 220 injured, as a result of a stampede at an aid center in the capital, Sana’a.
Dr. Anis Al-Subaihi, the official spokesman for the ministry, told Xinhua that a stampede incident occurred this evening in one of the aid centers in Bab Al-Yemen area, causing a human tragedy.
Al-Subaihi confirmed that the accident killed at least 80 people and injured more than 220 others, according to preliminary statistics.
He pointed out that the medical staff moved to the scene of the accident and transferred the injured to hospitals in the capital to receive first aid.
In turn, the Ministry of Interior in the Sana’a government (not recognized) stated that the tragic incident was the result of a stampede that left dozens of victims.
The Yemeni News Agency (Saba), which is run by the group, quoted a spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, Brigadier General Abdul Khaliq Al-Ajri, as saying, “What happened tonight in the capital, Sana’a, was a tragic and painful accident due to a stampede of citizens during the random distribution of sums of money by some merchants without coordination with the Ministry of Interior.” without organization, which led to the death and injury of dozens of citizens.”
Al-Ajri confirmed that “immediately upon the arrival of the report to the Ministry of Interior, the Capital Municipality police and the concerned units moved to the place, and the dead and injured were transferred to hospitals and two merchants in charge of the matter were arrested.”
He pointed out that “the prosecution moved immediately to supervise the records of preliminary inferences and conduct investigations about the case in order to reach all the circumstances and details of the incident, and the final results will be announced as soon as they are completed.”
Meanwhile, a high-ranking source in the Houthi Interior Ministry in Sana’a told Xinhua that the incident that took place in Ma’in School of Azal district in Bab al-Yemen in the capital, Sana’a, this evening was the result of an explosion targeting a gathering at a cash aid center, followed by a stampede. As a result, dozens of victims were killed and wounded.
Mahdi Al-Mashat, head of the Political Council (the highest body of the Houthis), directed “to form a committee from the Interior, Security, Intelligence, Judiciary and Prosecution Office to investigate the stampede incident in one of the aid distribution centers for a merchant in the capital’s secretariat.”
The capital, Sanaa, has been under the control of the Houthi group since late 2014.
