Thousands flee to Aden from Houthi-held areas in Hodeidah

A Displaced Yemeni family sit outside their tent at a make-shift camp for displaced people where they are taking shelter in the Maafir area, on the outskirts of Yemen's Taiz province on May 12, 2018. (File photo: AFP)

• The displacement was due to Houthi oppression of people in Hodeidah
• A camp in Al-Khokha region was set up and currently houses 700 families

DUBAI: At least 5,000 people fled to Aden from Houthi-held areas in Hodeidah, according to the Higher Relief Committee in Yemen, international pan-Arab daily Asharq Al-Awsat reported on Wednesday.

The displacement was due to Houthi oppression of people in Hodeidah, where militias were using them as human shields and seized their homes for military use, general coordinator, Jamal Balfaqih, explained.

Balfaqih says 200 people sought refuge in Hadramawt and around 100 in Marib.

The ceasefire in the province allowed for people to escape the fighting, he said.  

Higher Relief Committee says it is planning, with the assistance of Saudi Arabia and the UAE, to create a refugee center to provide food, water and health services to those fleeing.

A camp in Al-Khokha region was set up and currently houses 700 families.