Houthi escalation displaces 400 families a day in Yemen
English - Saturday 19 February 2022 الساعة 04:34 pm
Aden, NewsYemen:
A new statistics for the Department of Displacement Tracking in Yemen showed that the escalation of the Houthi militias has caused the displacement of more than 400 families every day since the beginning of this year, most of them in the governorates of Ma’rib, Hodeidah and Taiz, which are witnessing a continuous escalation after the militias rejected all proposals to end the war and return to the dialogue table.
The deteriorating living conditions, high prices, and high fuel prices led to a significant increase in the number of beggars.
IOM's Rapid Displacement Tracking Department collects data on the estimated daily numbers of families forced to flee their places of origin or displacement, allowing for regular reporting of new displacements in terms of estimated numbers, geography and needs. It also tracks returnees who have returned to their original locations.
And during the period from January 1 to February 5, documented UN figures estimated the displacement of about 16 thousand people at least once. Since the beginning of this year, a displacement tracking matrix has identified dozens of displaced families who left their displacement sites, returning to their place of origin or to another place.
According to the organization's data, between January 30 and February 5, 363 families (2178 individuals) were displaced at least once. The three most important governorates and districts to which people moved or into are Al Hudaydah (152 families), Hays District (137 households), and Al Khokhah District (15 households). Most of the displacement cases in the governorate originated from Al Hodeidah and Taiz.
In Marib, 88 families were displaced, and most of the displacement cases in the governorate originated from Marib and Dhamar. While the governorate of Taiz witnessed the displacement of (45 families), most of the displacement cases in the governorate originated from Taiz and Hodeidah.
UN refugee staff noted an increase in the number of families resorting to harmful coping mechanisms to make ends meet. As prices for basic commodities and cooking gas continue to rise, UNHCR field staff are recording increasing numbers of families begging for food and assistance.
Within a week, ten children were monitored either begging or working as child laborers in Sana'a governorate, while UNHCR addresses the most urgent needs of vulnerable families through the distribution of multi-purpose cash assistance, psychosocial support, and referral to specialized services when needed, among other interventions.
In a separate report, the organization stated that eviction threats still pose a significant risk to vulnerable and conflict-affected families in Yemen, as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) identified 62 families who received eviction threats in Amran governorate alone, including 12 on the verge of eviction. Identified families were referred for legal support and rental subsidies.
Over the past year, UNHCR has distributed $20 million in rental subsidies to nearly 80,000 families (about 480,000 individuals), while UNHCR field offices in Sa'ada, Ibb and Al Hudaydah report that partners are facing challenges in carrying out their daily activities due to the ongoing fuel shortage and the high rise in prices.
According to the same reports, activities in remote areas have been particularly affected, as partners are unable to secure fuel to reach those areas. In addition, some partner staff have had difficulties accessing their offices and community centers due to a lack of public transportation or high fuel prices.
With regard to asylum seekers from the Horn of Africa, UNHCR data reveals that, through clinics and health care services supported by UNHCR, it has assisted more than 1,500 refugees, asylum seekers and members of the host community in Aden Governorate. UNHCR-supported clinics conducted consultations and treated specific cases, mainly related to upper respiratory and febrile diseases.
UNHCR also continues to distribute winter cash assistance to refugees and asylum seekers. At the end of last month, it began disbursing cash assistance amounts to about 7,000 refugee families, with the aim of supporting vulnerable families of refugees and asylum seekers who live in a specific situation to deal with their winter needs and additional expenses.
UNHCR says that so far nearly 90 per cent of the beneficiary families have received their payments, and UNHCR has also ensured the activity of three mobile teams to ensure proper access to people with limited mobility.
