Yemenis welcomed Eid al-Fitr amidst great suffering imposed by the Houthi militia starting from the first day of Ramadan. This suffering included rising food prices, substantial taxes imposed on merchants, and forcing families to pay what they set aside for their children's clothing as charity to the pockets of Houthi leaders, not to mention crimes of assault and kidnappings. Journalist Mustafa Al-Sharabi told Okaz newspaper: "The Houthis have forced Yemeni families to abandon many of their Eid customs and rituals derived from their heritage and culture, in light of the starvation measures adopted by the militia to oppress our people." He clarified that many families could not afford to buy clothes for their children or sweets due to exorbitant prices and resorted to convincing their children that every day of God is a holiday.
Families of the kidnapped and imprisoned continue to experience a tragic Eid for the sixth consecutive year due to the abduction of their breadwinners by the militia. Many of them are unable to provide for their children's hunger, let alone afford clothing and sweets.
In this context, activist Amin Dabwan in Taiz province sees that Eid has lost its value under the militia’s presence in Yemen, stating, "There are no families we can visit to exchange greetings with, nor safe cities that allow us to move." He explained that the militia has besieged Taiz for six years, blocking access to medical care and food, and has placed all Yemenis in their controlled areas as prisoners without prisons, preventing them from celebrating and expressing their feelings.
