“We have taken a number of measures to provide housing to all the displaced people,” the ministry said in a statement following reports that some of these displaced people have been asked to vacate hotels and furnished apartments by the end of Ramadan.

It said a high-level committee, set up to study the housing problem of the displaced proposed payment of SR60,000 annually for a 10-member family for housing, food and clothing and SR70,000 each to families having more than 10 members.

“We have also decided that the amount would be paid to all displaced people, including those who have arranged their own housing or those in furnished apartments or in refugee camps,” the statement said.

The committee had also decided that the families who received the assistance would be given a month to find a suitable housing. After that the refugee camp would be closed and payment to those living in furnished apartments and camps would be stopped.

“We have also decided to make use of charitable organizations in the region to support and guide these families, especially those having elderly, handicapped, widows and people with chronic diseases to help them search for suitable houses.”

However, the ministry said those families who have been allowed to return to their houses along the border would be given compensations to the damages caused to their houses during the confrontation between Saudi forces and the Yemeni rebels.

The ministry said it would coordinate with the Interior Ministry and Jazan governorate to get accurate information about displaced families.

“The first installment of assistance was given to the displaced on Saaban 1, 1431 (July 13, 2010) and we have instructed building owners to provide them housing until the end of Ramadan,” the ministry said, adding that the two month time was enough for them to find suitable accommodation.

“We have paid financial assistance to all the displaced who provided required documents,” the ministry said, adding that the second installment would be paid directly to their bank accounts.

The Jazan governorate has observed that real estate owners in the region doubled the rents of their buildings, the ministry said, adding that it was unacceptable. A committee would conduct a field tour to make sure they charge reasonable rents, it said.