International Desk : At least 80 people have been killed and hundreds injured in a crush at a charity distribution event in war-torn Yemen on Thursday, Huthi officials said.

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The latest tragedy to strike this poor country came days ahead of the Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

An AFP said the incident took place inside a school where aid was being distributed.

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Hundreds of people in the poverty-hit country had gathered to receive handouts, according to witnesses.

Armed fighters in military garb and distribution workers screamed at the crowd to turn back as they pulled people out of the stampede.

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Huthi's interior ministry said the dead and injured have been moved to nearby hospitals and those responsible for the distribution were taken into custody.

The ministry said "dozens of people were killed due to a stampede during a random distribution of sums of money by some merchants".

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The Huthi political chief Mahdi al-Mashat said a committee has been formed to investigate.

A Huthi security official said three people had been detained on suspicion of involvement.

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Over 21.7 million people -- two-thirds of the country -- need humanitarian assistance this year, according to the UN.

Sun News/MR

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