A recent economic report, released here today, said that the thefts and looting of the Yemeni central bank reserves committed by the Houthi militias and deposed president Ali Salih who are occupying Yemeni capital of Sanaa have sent as many as 19 million Yemeni citizens to the edge of poverty. The report, prepared by the Media Center of the Program of Communication with Yemeni Scolars in cooperation with the Center for Studies and Economic Information, explained that following the the looting of nearly $ 5 billion of the foreign currency reserves of Yemen's Central Bank, tens of millions of Yemeni citizens were suffering from a tragic situation and in need to urgent assistance. The report said that in two years time the coup masterminds in Sanaa caused massive destruction at all levels. The number of citizens in need of assistance and protection rose to more than two thirds of Yemen's population. GDP fell from $ 28 billion to $ 16 billion Dollars, the report said. It pointed out that the foreign currency reserves in the Central Bank of Yemen before the coup was $ 5.5 billion, with $3 billion depleted in 2015 only during the Houthi coup, and the process of attrition continued in 2016 leaving only an amount of $700 million in September 2016. The report revealed that the coup militia stole more than two billion dollars during the period from February 2015 to May 2017 from allocations of the Ministry of Defense. It also pointed out that the total public revenues of the state deteriorated significantly in 2017, the actual revenues amounted to only $3 billion, while it was previously expected to reach $ 9.2 billion. The Media Center of Yemen said that Yemen lost $ 4.45 billion and $ 5.48 billion in 2015 and 2016 respectively.
