Yemen’s Information Minister Muammar Al-Iryani said Houthi militia are looting and extorting the private healthcare sector, state news agency Saba News reported.

The complaints from medical staff living in areas under Houthi control reveal additional taxes on owners of hospitals, private clinics and medical workers in the private sector, Al-Iryani said.

“Houthi militia, after destroying public health sector… went to impose additional taxes on private hospitals and clinics, drug manufacturers and stores on basis of military effort,” he added.

The militants have left the public without a defense against diseases but equipped the hospitals where their leaders and personnel stay with the highest technologies, Al-Iryani said.

Last week, the Iran-backed Houthis were accused of covering up the extent of the outbreak of COVID-19 in the territory under its control and of hampering with aid operations.

Yemeni citizens who have the coronavirus virus, or are suspected of having it, are staying at home out of fear they will be killed in hospital by “lethal injections” administered by Houthis, Al-Iryani said.