Sanaa [Yemen], June 29: A fire broke out Wednesday in a camp for displaced people in western Yemen, destroying 11 houses, Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported.
The fire was caused by fireworks used in the Eid al-Adha celebration in the Al-Qanawis district of Hodeida province, according to a Houthi official. Furniture, food, and livestock were consumed by the flames, but no one was injured.
The official said that financial aid was provided to support the affected families, who were left without means of sustenance. He also underscored the urgent need for intervention to secure new housing for these families and to provide them with the necessary assistance.
According to the United Nations, 4.5 million Yemenis, or 14 percent of the population, have been forced to flee their homes because of the conflict. Approximately 66 percent of the displaced live in dangerous locations, characterized by widespread food insecurity and lack of basic services.
Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Houthis seized control of several northern provinces. The war has killed tens of thousands of people and pushed the country to the brink of starvation.
Source: Xinhua