DUBAI (Mona Moussly)
As Yemen continued its military offensive against Shiite rebels in the turbulent northern region of Saada, the area's civilians continued to bear the brunt as aid agencies warned Tuesday of a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation.
Aid groups, like the International Committee of the Red Cross, are concerned that as heavy clashes between Zaidi Shiite rebels and the army rage in northern town of Saada civilians are left with little options for survival, leading to a "serious humanitarian problem."
Those that attempt to flee face poor means of transportation, meaning most only have the option of walking, coupled with tough weather conditions and the high risk of getting caught in the cross fire.
" It is winter season and conditions are harsh. There has been heavy rain and many displaced people who do not have any means of transportation are fleeing their homes on foot " Hassan Hicham -- ICRC regional spokesman "It is winter season and conditions are harsh. There has been heavy rain and many displaced people who do not have any means of transportation are fleeing their homes on foot," Hassan Hicham, the regional spokesperson for ICRC, told Al Arabiya.
Hicham explained how he had spoken to a woman who had walked for nine hours with three children, including a four-year-old, to to flee Saada city.
Hicham said the number of displaced people registered by the ICRC was 25,000 but added "this does not reflect the total number of displaced people as it is difficult to get numbers because we do not have full access to the area." |
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Trapped in Saada " The inhabitants are stuck in their homes, while there has been a staggering rise in food prices " Laure Chedrawi -- UNHCR spokesman The only other alternative is to stay put which is why thousands of residents remain trapped in Saada town and after four weeks of an all-out army offensive aid agencies warned they were unable to deliver aid and have lost communication with people in the region.
Local officials blame the loss of contact on the rebels, who they accuse of shelling a communications tower in Saada and cutting off cables in the neighboring Amran province, causing landlines and mobile phone networks to be suspended in the area.
Laure Chedrawi, the spokeswoman of U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, said the situation was dire as "we have not been able to deliver aid to the town of Saada as humanitarian corridors have not been secured," AFP quoted her as saying.
"The inhabitants are stuck in their homes, while there has been a staggering rise in food prices," she told the French news agency by phone.
There is no official toll of casualties incurred since the government began its operation "Scorched Earth," although thousands of people have been killed since fighting first broke out in 2004. |
