ADEN, Feb 28 (KUNA) -- An official Yemeni report released on Sunday announced displacement of about 1,517 families from their camps due to the escalating attacks of the Houthi militia three weeks ago to control Ma'rib governorate, which is hosting the largest number of displaced people in the country, about more than two million citizens.
A report issued by the Executive Unit for the Management of Displaced Persons Camps in Yemen stated that 1,517 families, including 12,000 individuals, were displaced for the second or third time from camps of the relocated in Sarwah area, west of Ma'rib, which is witnessing the most violent Houthi attacks The report added that Sarwah area hosts about nine camps for the displaced, and includes 2,460 families, a total of 17,220 individuals.
It also said that Ma'rib governorate, whose population does not exceed 480,000 people, has hosted 2,231,000 displaced persons, who make up 60 percent of the total number of relocated people in Yemen, equivalent to 7.5 percent of the total population, since the Houthi militia coup in late 2014.
The statement said that according to a field survey, the number of displaced camps in Maآ’rib is 139 camps housing 31,411 displaced families, with a total of 219,877 individuals.
It added that 282,122 families reside in the host community in Maآ’rib, with a total of about 1,974,000.
These numbers continue to rise every day in light of the continuing waves of displacement to Maآ’rib due to the Houthi escalation.
The Executive Unit for the Displaced Persons issued urgent calls to the United Nations and the international community to exert pressure on the Houthis to stop their attacks on Maآ’rib and stop targeting the displaced.
It also urged all international and relief organizations working in Yemen to move urgently to provide relief to the displaced and alleviate their suffering.
It called on the Houthis to respect international humanitarian law, to stop targeting civilians and displaced persons, and to open safe passes to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to them. (end) sns.sad.sam