Government Inflicts Heavy Casualties on Rebel Forces in Northern Yemen as Humanitarian Crisis Looms

Government Inflicts Heavy Casualties on Rebel Forces in Northern Yemen as Humanitarian Crisis Looms

By Ahmad Shihadah

Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

SA’ADA, YemenArmed conflicts continue in Northern Yemen as Yemeni government forces engage rebel groups in the mountainous province of Saada.  Regional sources claim that seventeen members of the Houthi rebel group were killed in the skirmish, which occurred in response rebel attacks in several regions. Furthermore, it has been reported that Yemeni government forces have inflicted heavy losses to the rebellion elements and destroyed several hideouts.

The government claims that the rebels are trying to impose religious Shia law. However, the rebels assert that the government is corrupt and has carried out airstrikes against villages in the region killing civilians. International Humanitarian Law requires warring parties at all times to distinguish between civilians and combatants, both the Government forces and Houthi rebels have pledged to do so. If the rebel’s assertions are true, the Government may be violating their pledge.

Moreover, a larger humanitarian crisis looms at Al-Mazraq refugee camp, located ten miles from the fighting near the Saudi Arabian border, where thousands of refugees have been displaced as a result of the fighting. Aid groups have stressed the possibility of humanitarian crisis, as the intense fighting has prevented aid groups from entering the region. Possible consequences of prevented access include lack of food to refugees and inadequate or nonfunctioning health facilities. Many of the refugees have been turned down at the border of Saudi Arabia while attempting to flee the conflict.

The United Nations (UN) is attempting to put together a cross border aid operation from inside Saudi Arabia. Although the UN has launched a $23 million dollar “flash aide” appeal to assist the approximately 150,000 displaced persons, as of now no funds have been received for the initiative. Currently the UN has been using emergency funds from its Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees has approved a $2.5 million loan pending responses for the previous $23 million appeal. As of September 8, the refugees have received 170 metric tons of food delivered to camps in towns Hajjag and Sa’ada.

For more information, please see:

Saba News Agency – Armed Forces Cause Rebellion Elements Heavy Losses – 12 September 2009

Al Jazeera – ‘Heavy Losses’ in Yemen Fighting – 11 September 2009

UN News Centre – Yemen: UN Appeal Remains Unfunded As Thousands Flee Fighting Through Desert – 11 September 2009

BBC – Yemen Claims Success Over Rebels – 10 September 2009

Human Rights Watch Armed Conflict in Northern Yemen – 28 August 2009

Author: Impunity Watch Archive