Conflict in Yemen

The situation

Fighting between government forces and Houthi rebels in the north of the country has resulted in an estimated 100,000 people fleeing their homes and villages in the last month alone.

Blog: People living in limbo

So far an estimated 90,000 displaced civilians are facing extreme insecurity in and around Sa’ada city and aid agencies are largely unable to reach them with assistance at this time. However, 60,000 displaced people who rely on help from aid agencies like Oxfam are living in camps south of the frontline which are currently accessible.

Oxfam's response

Oxfam is helping to provide life-saving aid to many people affected by the conflict who are living in accessible camps, with current plans to assist a total of 15,000 displaced men, women and children.

Working with partners, we are helping people to recover by providing sanitation and hygiene services in internally displaced camps in the Hajjah and Amran governorate.

To date, we have distributed 2,750 hygiene kits, constructed 750 latrines, trained 57 hygiene promoters and installed four T45 water tanks inside Al Mazarakh camp 1. We are planning to open a third camp in the Hajjah governate to accomodate the growing number of displaced people seeking refugee from the conflict. Both camps will be able to supply 45, 000 litres of water per day to an estimated 20, 000 people.

On film: Oxfam in Al Mazarakh camp

Meanwhile, we are continuing to tanker water to the Khaywan camp in the Amran governate, which is home to 1225 internally displaced people. The nearest source of water is about 30 kilometres away.

Blog: Delivering water and sanitation in war-torn Yemen

Update: 12 January 2010