Yemeni Government Declares Liberated Districts of Hajjah as “Disaster Areas” After Over 3,500 Displaced Families Affected

Yemen Monitor/Newsroom

The Yemeni government declared on Sunday that the liberated districts in northern Hajjah Governorate (western Yemen) as “disaster areas” due to the damage caused to 3,521 displaced families as a result of the heavy rains that hit the area over the past two days, with most of them losing their homes.

Abduh Masawi, Director General of the Executive Unit Branch, said in a press statement, “Despite 24 hours having passed since the distress call issued by the displaced unit, it has not received any response, neither from the government nor from humanitarian organizations.”

Masawi expressed his dismay at the neglect of the humanitarian disaster that has befallen thousands of displaced civilians who have lost their homes and no longer have even mats or blankets to protect themselves.

Masawi added that these families, which include thousands of displaced people, mostly children and women, in Midi, Haradh, Hiran, and Abs districts, are in dire need of urgent interventions in the sectors of shelter, shelter materials, food, water, and sanitation.

The executive unit had called on international and local non-governmental organizations to provide emergency assistance to the affected families, including food aid, shelter, non-food items, and water, sanitation, and hygiene services.

In its report, it emphasized the need to provide emergency stockpiles and activate a rapid response mechanism for such emergencies.

Activists have circulated photos and videos revealing the extent of the disaster that has befallen thousands of displaced civilians due to heavy rains and winds in various areas of Midi, Haradh, Hiran, and Abs districts in the north of the governorate.