UN says nearly 5,000 families displaced in Yemen’s Hudaydah

The United Nations says nearly 5,000 families have been displaced in Yemen’s western province of Hudaydah, whose capital port city has been under unprecedented attacks by a Saudi-led coalition and mercenaries supporting the impoverished country’s former government since June 13.

In a statement released on Sunday, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said 4,458 households have been displaced from their homes in Hudaydah since June 1.

It added that at least 36 displaced families had already lost their entire livelihood as their farms were damaged in airstrikes by Saudi-led coalition earlier this month.

After nearly a month of sporadic clashes between fighters of the Ansarullah movement and the Saudi-led coalition coupled with the militants and mercenaries supporting Yemen’s former President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi in the volatile province, the latter two launched a major assault on Wednesday to invade Hudaydah, a densely-populated city and the war-torn country's most vital port.

The Ansarullah movement, which is a significant aid to the Yemeni army in defending the country against the invading forces, has been running state affairs in the absence of an effective administration during the past three years.

The invasion of Hudaydah has already triggered fears of a fresh humanitarian crisis in a country where more than 22 million people are in need of aid, including 8.4 million who are at risk of starvation.

Meanwhile, Yemen's official Saba news agency reported that warplanes belonging to the Saudi-led coalition had conducted at least five airstrikes against Hudaydah as Hadi’s militia launched their ground attacks against the port city, a lifeline to millions of Yemenis.

On Saturday, Hadi’s ground forces, backed by Emirati and Sudanese troops, reportedly surrounded Hudaydah International Airport.

“We have lived in a state of terror for three days because we are in a neighborhood close to the airport,” said resident Khaled Ateeq, 38.

According to the Ansarullah news portal, Saudi-led warplanes hit the airport with at least 20 airstrikes on Sunday.

SS