SANA'A — An official statistic has said 253 people including 63 women and foreigners committed suicide in Yemen last year, up by 18 suicide cases from 2011. The incidents were reported in 19 Yemeni cities, the statistic said, pointing out that the capital Sana'a was on top of the cities with 36 suicide incidents. Taiz came second with 34, Hodeida third (31), Ibb fourth (22) and Dale followed with 16. The other cities included Dhamar, Amran, Hajja, Saada, Hadramout, Mahweet, Marib, Baidha and Shabwa. About 140 of those who committed suicide completed primary study, 36 completed high school and 63 illiterate people, according to the statistic. It added that college graduates accounted for the lowest number among the victims, only 5. The statistic, which was issued by the Interior Ministry, did not talk about the key reasons for committing suicide just as the government is struggling to cope with economic, political and security problems. Last year, experts said most people commit suicide due to increasing rates of poverty and unemployment in the country that is facing hunger and deepened challenges. World agencies said the latest developments including the 2011 mass protests deepened the country's woes warning that about half of Yemen's population, nearly 12 million people, live under the poverty line and are in dire need for urgent aid. — Agencies
