Forces affiliated with the Iran-backed Houthi militia have abducted a physician in Ibb Governorate following his demands for the disbursement of salaries that have been suspended for years to health sector employees under Houthi control. Medical sources confirmed that Dr. Mustafa Sadiq Basha, the Head of the Diagnostic Radiology Department at Al-Odein Hospital in western Ibb, was seized after he insisted on receiving his overdue wages and financial dues, alongside those owed to his colleagues at the hospital, who have not received remuneration for over seven years. This incident occurs amidst the severe deterioration of living conditions for public sector employees in Houthi-controlled areas. Many face an acute economic crisis due to the cessation of salary payments dating back to 2016, which has significantly eroded their capacity to cover basic necessities and exacerbated the decline in health and service provision in those regions. The abduction of Dr. Basha highlights the escalating pressure being exerted on employees and citizens under the control of the Houthi militia, which acts as an Iranian proxy in Yemen. This action follows repeated appeals from doctors and public sector workers demanding the release of their financial entitlements to ensure the continuity of essential healthcare services. |
