Yemen's Houthis Impose New Levies on Residents for Eid Sacrifices

New financial levies are reportedly being imposed by Houthi militias in Yemen's Ibb province, demanding that residents provide sacrificial animals for Houthi supervisors under the guise of donations and support for the frontlines as the Eid al-Adha holiday approaches.

Citizens have voiced widespread complaints, confirming new demands for sheep and cattle to be collected from villages. Activist Ibrahim Asqain posted on Facebook that the Houthi militia has issued directives to "village clerks" in several districts of Ibb province, requiring residents to gather sacrificial animals from each village, with specific quotas set for sheep and cattle as part of new seasonal levies that burden the population.

Sources indicate that Houthi supervisors are increasing pressure on neighborhood leaders and village clerks to meet the demanded quotas of sacrificial animals, employing indirect threats against those who refuse. This comes at a time when the majority of families are experiencing deteriorating living conditions due to salary arrears, rising prices, and declining income sources.

Residents confirmed that these levies are being imposed while many families struggle to afford basic Eid necessities. They noted that numerous households rely heavily on remittances from expatriates, who are themselves facing difficult economic circumstances.

Activists have described the situation as a "systematic drain" on the people of Ibb province, exploiting religious occasions to impose further taxes. This exacerbates the suffering of residents amidst an economic collapse and increasing cost of living burdens.

Ibb province, under Houthi control, is witnessing a continuous escalation in the collection of financial and in-kind levies from citizens, merchants, and shop owners under various pretexts. This has worsened the plight of the population, leaving many families unable to meet the most basic requirements of life.