Three inmates die in Houthi-controlled Ibb prison within a month due to neglect

Three inmates have died in the central prison of Ibb governorate, which is under Houthi control, within the span of one month, attributed to deliberate medical neglect, severe malnutrition, and widespread financial and administrative corruption within the facility.

Sources from within the prison revealed a dire humanitarian crisis, with inmates lacking basic necessities. They are reportedly forced to drink unsafe water from bathroom taps due to the absence of clean water. Furthermore, the food provided is of extremely poor quality, lacking nutritional value, as provisions are allegedly being embezzled and stolen by prison management.

The prison administration, reportedly led by an individual named Musleh Al-Ghazee, is accused of extensive corruption, including withholding essential medications from sick inmates. When medications are available, they are allegedly smuggled out and sold on the black market instead of being distributed to those in need, leading to a severe deterioration of many inmates' health conditions.

The deceased inmates have been identified as Musa Saleh Al-Jabri, who died approximately two weeks ago; Mohammed Abdullah Al-Aissi, who passed away the day after Al-Jabri; and Ammar Nabil Hassan Al-Alawi, who died yesterday. Their deaths have reportedly caused shock and heightened fears among the remaining prisoners.

Human rights activists and organizations have issued an urgent appeal to international bodies, including the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross, calling for immediate intervention to save the lives of the remaining inmates. They are also demanding a transparent investigation into the causes of these consecutive deaths and accountability for those involved in the alleged negligence and corruption, which they describe as turning prisons into "centers for slow death."

Reports indicate a notable increase in inmate deaths in Ibb prisons in recent years, a situation exacerbated by a lack of international oversight and ongoing systematic violations against detainees.