Updated 23 February 2010
Since 2004, the conflict in Yemen has displaced over 200,000 people, with no end in sight. The World Federation has contacted its member Jamaat in the region to inquire about their well being and to offer any support.
The Republic of Yemen is located on the Arabian Peninsula in Southwest Asia. It has an estimated population of more than 23 million people and is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden to the south and Oman to the east.
The following summary was provided by the United Nations High Commisioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesperson, Andrej Mahecic at the press briefing, on 12 January 2010, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva:
There is no lull in the fierce fighting between the government troops and Al Houti forces in Sa'ada province in northern Yemen as the conflict enters the sixth month. Thousands of Yemeni civilians continue to flee to neighbouring provinces, desperately seeking safety, shelter and assistance. These newly displaced people bring stories of intense clashes in and report dozens of civilian casualties as a result of air strikes and heavy fighting. UNHCR is not present in the conflict area and has no independent confirmation of these reports.
We now estimate that some 200,000 people have been affected by the conflict in Yemen since 2004, including those displaced by the latest escalation which erupted in early August last year.
The internally displaced people (IDPs) now arriving to Hajjah and Amran governorates travelled by whatever means available. Many made the long and tiring journey to the IDP camps in Hajjah province on foot while others remain trapped in the conflict area.
The latest influx is straining already stretched shelter capacity and quickly depleting aid resources in the area:
- Overcrowding at Al Mazrak 1 camp in Hajjah province - is a major concern as the camp now hosts over 21,000 people – more than double of its original capacity.
- The second camp, funded by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is quickly filling up.
- The third camp at Al Mazrak has the planned capacity of 1,200 families (9,400 people) with possibility of further extension.
The number of IDPs outside the camps is also growing rapidly. There are now huge makeshift sites along the roads Shelling can be clearly heard in this area and it is a constant reminder of the ongoing conflict in the north. Following the government's request last week for a fourth camp, a UNHCR site planner is currently working with the local authorities on the identification of a suitable location.
UNHCR welcomes the announcement of the Organisation of Islamic Conference that it will build a hospital, attached to Al Mazrak 3 camp, with an inpatient department, X-ray and surgical room as well as a school. The hospital with 20 beds will be serving IDPs in all three existing camps and the local population.
Shipments of cooking gas have also stopped and as a result the prices sky rocketed. Consequently, IDPs now rely on collecting wood and cutting trees in the nearby mountains. According to our mission team the newly arrived IDPs were extremely exhausted. Some of them spoke about heavy aerial bombardment, mentioning large number of casualties in and around Sa'ada City.
For more information, please email secretariat@world-federation.org