Human rights activist and expert in international mechanisms for the protection of human rights and transitional justice, Ishraq Al-Maqtari, has accused the Houthi group, designated as a terrorist organization by the UN, of blocking international and regional organizations from providing aid to residents of Malhan, southwest of al-Mahwit governorate, who were affected by floods.

In a post on X (seen by "Barran Press"), Al-Maqtari stated that those affected by the heavy rains and dam collapses in al-Mahwit are in "inhumane conditions, accompanied by a suppression of the truth by the Houthis, as well as international and regional organizations that present themselves as specialized and concerned with humanitarian aid."

She pointed out that roads remain "blocked," while displaced families are "living in precarious and unjust conditions." Al-Maqtari asserted that "Houthi committees, refusing any intervention except through them, monopolize any assistance, even from charitable organizations, and loot it, distributing it to those they choose to gain the loyalty of victims."

According to Al-Maqtari, confiscated aid includes "local relief convoys sent in solidarity by residents of Bani Saad, Qana'us, and Ma'in districts," despite the Houthis' ban on interventions by humanitarian organizations and charitable associations that were previously operating neutrally and with professional standards.

Al-Maqtari, spokesperson for the National Committee for Investigating Human Rights Allegations, urged authorities within the legitimate government, the international community, and all those concerned with human rights in Yemen to "not neglect the story and plight of the victims in these areas."

She accompanied her post with an image of the devastated region, showcasing the altered terrain of the al-Mahwit countryside following landslides and heavy floods, along with a document listing the names of the Houthi committee that victims accuse of looting aid and preventing voluntary assistance.

On August 27, 2024, Malhan district experienced an unprecedented humanitarian disaster due to heavy rains and floods, resulting in 54 deaths and missing persons, the complete destruction of 43 homes, and damage to approximately 200,000 families.