Yemen Conflict Resumes as Houthi Rebels Threaten Bab al-Mandeb Strait

Yemen erupted into conflict again this week after four years of an unofficial truce. Houthi rebels are threatening to block the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and have made months of threats to fight alongside Iran, OilPrice.com reported. Less than half of Yemen's population has access to electricity.

In Aden, power cuts now last up to 20 hours a day. The Hiswa power station has halted service due to a network strike, while the President power station has cut back production because of a lack of crude oil supplies. The outages have disrupted water supply, health services, education and commercial activity, The New Arab reported.

Many residents in districts including Al-Mualla, Sirah and Crater have been forced to sleep on the streets. Yemenis are turning to unsafe alternatives. Mohammed Saeed, head of the emergency department at Al-Thawra Hospital burn unit, stated the center frequently receives patients from Taiz and neighboring governorates suffering from burns caused by battery fires.

Malik Al-Sabri, manager of planning and information for Taiz police, stated the number of fire incidents has increased due to improper use of solar energy systems and unregulated conversion of vehicles to cooking gas. Yemeni leadership has indicated it wishes to resume trade relationships with the United States to increase investment in the energy sector.

com reported.