Houthi militias intensify, during the month of Ramadan, efforts to blackmail citizens and merchants under the provision of “Eid convoys” in support of the war effort, as well as taxes and levies imposed such as zakat or fees to improve Sanaa and distribute food baskets.

Traders and businessmen complain they are on the verge of bankruptcy and their businesses could be subject to foreclosure due to systematic and continuous extortion by Houthi militias. They also impose royalties throughout the year, and on several occasions, which increases in Ramadan.

Traders told Asharq Al-Awsat that Houthis use all methods of extortion and looting of citizens, merchants, institutions, sheiks and dignitaries, forcing them to donate all convoys without taking into account living conditions of the citizens and their economic situation caused by the war and the corruption of the pro-Iranian group.

The militias did not exclude any of the institutions under their control in Sanaa from mobilizing support and donations, including public and private institutions. Academics told Asharq Al-Awsat that the militias ordered the universities to run food convoys and collect donations for the group's fighters in the fronts.

Economists confirm that the coup militias continue to destroy the private sector, after being privy to the public sector. They looted all authorities’ savings and monopolized them for their followers, war effort, and employees salaries.

Merchants in Sanaa say they are forced to donate, whether cash money or items they trade, without any exception.

The militias forced a shoe seller to allocate 10 percent of his total merchandise for the war effort.

“They determined each kind and shoe size they want, including women's, children and men shoes,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.

A prominent perfume merchant, speaking on condition of anonymity, admitted that each Eid, Houthis force him to pay royalties and participate in preparing aid convoys for fighters. He admitted that the group's senior leaders in Sanaa asked for his best perfume for their personal use.

Citizens’ demand for clothes during Eid period increases and Houthi militias carry out heavily armed raids on major shops and retail clothing shops in Sanaa, and Ibb forcing them to donate.

Traders fear Houthis’ retaliation for those who do not support the war effort. They said militias are practicing a variety of methods, including kidnapping and closing shops, for those who refuse to donate.

A retailer in Sanaa reported that militias focus on clothes’ shops of all kinds, and they are forced to choose between paying or closure.

Economists say that levies and royalties imposed on traders, regardless of the goods, will be added to the final value of the commodity, which poor and destitute citizens will have to pay.

Earlier, militias closed chain stores in Sanaa and several cities, with losses reaching millions of Yemeni riyals. In addition to closing one of Sanaa's biggest shopping malls under the pretext that it deals with banknotes issued by the Central bank in Aden.

Store owners confirmed they were forced to pay royalties, participate in preparing aid convoys, as well as paying the taxes, customs, and cleaning fees, all of which costs a lot.

Meanwhile, dozens of traders left Sanaa to areas under the legitimate government control in Aden, Maerib, and Hadramout, in an effort to distance themselves from the militarization of the militias and its relentless war effort.AFP.