At least 15,000 Tihama Yemeni families fleeing Houthi oppression in Hodeidah have been displaced and redistributed among liberated districts, including the Directorate of Al-Khokha, Taiz, Lahj, Aden, Abyan, Marib and Hadramout.
Most of Tihama’s uprooted locals were forced out their homes after Houthi militiamen decided to set up military barracks in civilian neighborhoods. Snipers are believed to take up positions inside vacated homes.
Houthis did not only displace Tihama locals and rob them of their private property, but forced them to move to areas under coup control. Most speculate that pushing uprooted citizens into Houthi-run zones suggests militia hopes to recruit displaced children to fight on west coast battlefronts.
Insurgency militias have exploited dire humanitarian strains suffered by Yemenis in areas under their control.
“When militias began to drive people out their homes, forcing them to flee in the direction of Houthi-run areas, and inflicting ill-treatment accompanied with besiegement, most displaced locals chose to flee to liberated areas,” said Hodeidah relief committee deputy head Walid al-Qadmi.
Qadimi said that Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi directed Hodeidah governor to take in all internally displaced Yemenis and arrange for all their needs.
The relief official also referred to directives given by Saudi monarch King Salman bin Abdulaziz and the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the General Supervisor of the King Salman Center for Relief and Works Humanitarian assistance to operate an air, sea and land bridge for humanitarian relief to reach the people of Hodeidah.
Saudi humanitarian relief efforts have contributed tremendously to the containment of all displaced persons.
Aid was delivered to liberated areas under government control and handed to local authorities in Hodeidah governorate.
Local authorities established a camp for displaced people in Lahij governorate Rabat region, equipped with shelter and water supplies, and a working health clinic for the displaced.
Qadmi revealed that food will be delivered by the UAE Red Crescent and the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre.
