‎‏Hodeidah – Displaced Yemeni citizen Issa Mohammed Hijan Odhabi, originally from Haradh district, was shot dead on Saturday, August 30, 1447 AH, while collecting winter relief items in Deir Rajeh, Al-Zuhra district, Hodeidah governorate.

‎‏According to eyewitnesses, the victim — a father of two young daughters — was standing among dozens of displaced families waiting for blankets and mattresses distributed by a humanitarian organization when a minor dispute broke out between him and a man identified as Abu Hashim Ghalfan, reportedly affiliated with the Houthi movement (Ansar Allah).

‎‏Sources said the altercation escalated quickly, with Ghalfan opening fire directly at the unarmed man. The victim was struck multiple times in the face, chest, abdomen, and limbs, and died instantly. Several other displaced civilians were also injured.

‎‏Witnesses reported that the gunman fled the scene with several armed companions aboard a military vehicle. Local authorities have not yet apprehended him.

‎‏Relatives of the victim and local activists condemned the killing, arguing that authorities’ inaction was due to the fact that the victim was a “poor, defenseless man from Tihama.” They urged the government and judiciary to enforce the law impartially.

‎‏Activists also appealed to the Houthi leadership, calling on Abdul-Malik al-Houthi not to allow impunity for the perpetrators and to uphold the principle of justice and retribution as mandated by law and religion.

‎‏The killing sparked outrage among displaced communities, as the victim’s two young daughters, both under the age of ten, were left orphaned by the incident.

‎‏Background

‎‏The Houthi movement has repeatedly faced accusations by international organizations of diverting or obstructing humanitarian aid. In December 2018, the World Food Programme (WFP) reported evidence of food aid being diverted in Houthi-controlled areas, warning it would suspend assistance unless a biometric monitoring system was adopted. In June 2019, the WFP began a partial suspension of aid distribution in Sanaa after failing to reach an agreement with Houthi authorities.

‎‏Investigations by the Associated Press in 2018 and 2020 documented Houthi fighters’ involvement in selling aid on the black market and looting warehouses in Hajjah governorate. Similarly, a Human Rights Watch report in September 2020 described the Houthis’ record of interference in aid delivery as “flagrant,” accusing them of pressuring relief agencies to channel assistance to loyalists and fighters.

‎‏These reports highlight the major humanitarian challenges facing millions of Yemenis and raise concerns about repeated violations in Houthi-controlled areas.