Occupied Yemeni Provinces Drowning in Chaos and Starvation

More than a decade has passed since the southern and eastern regions of Yemen fell under the grip of the Saudi-Emirati coalition and their allied militias, compounded by the presence of U.S. and British military forces. For the people living in these regions, this occupation has meant a relentless descent into chaos, insecurity, and systemic impoverishment. They are ensnared in a sinister scheme designed to strip Yemenis of their independence and dignity while exploiting the nation’s resources and wealth.

A Decade of Subjugation and Hunger

Since the Saudi-Emirati coalition’s occupation of Aden and other southern and eastern provinces—misleadingly labeled as “liberated”—the coalition has imposed policies of starvation and fear. The proliferation of secret prisons across these regions starkly illustrates the oppressive practices of these regimes, notorious for being among the most repressive globally. Their goal has been clear: to subjugate the Yemeni people through starvation and terror, fostering famine and inciting internal conflicts.

The people of these occupied areas face worsening conditions. These regions are governed by militias and factions that follow orders from Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, with the coalition relentlessly promoting the concept of division. This divisive agenda not only fosters instability but ensures that chaos and deteriorating security, economic, and living conditions prevail. Amid this, policies of subjugation through hunger and fear force residents to focus solely on survival—either in pursuit of basic necessities or merely seeking safety in the face of random violence fueled by ongoing conflicts and lawlessness.

Chaos Reigns in the South

After ten years of aggression, the southern and eastern provinces remain trapped in a vortex of chaos and insecurity. The residents are haunted by a daily reality imposed by the occupation—rampant crime, including assassinations, deliberate killings, armed robbery, raids, arbitrary arrests, abductions, and extortion. These atrocities, previously absent, have become the norm since the coalition seized control of these regions.

The impact of this chaos extends beyond personal safety, crippling the local economy and worsening living conditions. The absence of stability, coupled with extortion and levies imposed by UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) militias and other factions loyal to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, has forced many merchants and business owners to flee. They now seek refuge in liberated provinces under the authority of the Government of Change and Construction, which enjoys stability unprecedented in Yemen’s history before the September 21 Revolution in 2015.

Adding to these dire conditions is the presence of notorious secret prisons operated by the Saudi-Emirati coalition and their STC allies. Within these prisons, horrific violations—ranging from forced disappearances to extreme torture—are inflicted on those who oppose foreign occupation, exposing the true nature of Riyadh and Abu Dhabi’s rule.

Internal strife within the so-called “legitimate government” has further exacerbated the turmoil. Rivalries and escalating tensions among factions have only widened the scope of lawlessness and insecurity across the southern and eastern provinces.

Sayyid Abdulmalik al-Houthi’s Commitment to the South

On April 22, 2019, Sayyid Abdulmalik Badruddin al-Houthi addressed the plight of Yemen’s southern and eastern regions under Saudi-Emirati occupation. In an interview with Al-Masirah TV, he condemned the systematic oppression and humiliation inflicted upon the residents of these provinces.

Sayyid Abdulmalik highlighted a widespread propaganda campaign aimed at portraying the coalition’s occupation as beneficial to southern Yemen. However, the grim reality has exposed this falsehood: the so-called “liberation” has only resulted in oppression, human rights violations, and the horrors of UAE-run secret prisons, where practices contradicting international ethics and laws are rampant.

He pointed to growing awareness among the southern population of the criminal role of the occupying forces, which robbed them of freedom and dignity. While a small minority of collaborators has reaped benefits from UAE patronage, the majority of the population continues to suffer under occupation and dire living conditions.

The leader of the revolution also noted that the coalition has successfully cultivated voices promoting division under various pretexts. Despite this, the Yemeni people overwhelmingly reject such divisive agendas, holding fast to their ideals of unity, independence, freedom, and dignity.

Sayyid Abdulmalik expressed hope for the future, emphasizing the potential for a large-scale movement within the southern and eastern provinces to expel the occupiers and reclaim Yemen’s sovereignty.