DistantNews
Support us
🇶🇦 Qatar /Disasters & Emergencies

Houthi attacks in Taiz trigger a new wave of displacement

From Al Jazeera · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Ongoing story
  • Houthi attacks on western fronts in Taiz governorate have forced displaced families to flee camps again as fighting moves toward Jabal Habashi.
  • The offensive involved missiles, drones and ground fighting, with both sides sending reinforcements and reporting advances.
  • The escalation has killed dozens of fighters and threatens vital roads leading to Yemen’s Red Sea coast.

Abdullah Saeed had already fled his home once. Now, after finding shelter in a camp far from Taiz’s frontlines, he has been forced to leave again.

Saeed, 47, left Maqbanah district west of Taiz in 2022 and settled in al-Rahabah camp in the Jabal Habashi area, about 90km south. Around 300 families in the camp struggled with basic needs, but they had found a measure of peace away from the fighting.

Fighting erupted suddenly at night. We were far from the battlefield, but in the morning, we were shocked to see the frontlines near our camp. There was no solution but to take our basic belongings and flee.

· Abdullah SaeedA displaced resident described why families fled al-Rahabah camp as fighting approached.

That changed when battles reached Jabal Habashi. Houthi fighters attacked the district and other areas in southwest Yemen early Thursday, and fighting continued as the group advanced toward al-Rahabah. Saeed and hundreds of other families fled, carrying only basic belongings.

“Fighting erupted suddenly at night. We were far from the battlefield, but in the morning, we were shocked to see the frontlines near our camp. There was no solution but to take our basic belongings and flee,” Saeed told Al Jazeera. He said his earlier experience of being caught in crossfire in 2022 persuaded him to leave before the fighting reached the camp.

We have fled for the second time, but there are also families who fled for the first time. We are all now in dire need of shelter and basic services.

· Abdullah SaeedSaeed described the needs of families displaced by the renewed fighting.

“We have fled for the second time, but there are also families who fled for the first time. We are all now in dire need of shelter and basic services,” he said. Saeed is staying with relatives at another camp. He had hoped to return to Maqbanah after four quiet years along Yemen’s frontlines, but now says he would be grateful simply to return to al-Rahabah, where he had shelter, water and familiarity.

“I do not support any military side, but I hope the battles stop soon and we manage to return to our camp, as all we need now is stability,” Saeed said. The Houthi offensive used missiles and drones before ground forces moved in. Government forces, backed by Saudi Arabia, say they have resisted the attacks and retaken some positions. Reinforcements have arrived for both sides, and dozens of fighters have been killed.

I do not support any military side, but I hope the battles stop soon and we manage to return to our camp, as all we need now is stability.

· Abdullah SaeedSaeed appealed for an end to the fighting and a return to the camp.
About this summary

Originally published by Al Jazeera in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

More Stories

From Our Blog