Houthi authorities have evicted students from a major Sana’a University residential complex, claiming that it is a precaution against the spread of coronavirus.

The Sana’a-based Charitable Housing Administration, now run by Houthi-appointed officials, published a notice on Sunday evening stating that all students should leave the complex by March 16, warning that no student would be allowed to stay there after March 18.

The residential complex is the largest of its kind in Yemen, housing 2,600 students who are studying at Sana'a University. The students come from far and wide, including the capital’s rural areas, neighboring governorates and districts. The premises consists of four large buildings funded by the Sheikh Sinan Abu Luhoom Foundation. 

The Houthi-run housing administration opened two of the four buildings for Sana'a University students in the past two years, while keeping the other two buildings for indoctrination courses taught to Houthi loyalists. 

In 2015, the Houthis took over all of the foundation's charitable residence buildings – as well as its neighboring mosques and sports annexes – and replaced the buildings' administrators and supervisors with their own.