Yemen: Displacement reported across the country

Scores of families have fled the Yemeni capital Sana'a since fierce clashes erupted in late May between military units loyal to the government and loyalists to Shekih Said Al Ahmer of the Hashid tribe, one of the most powerful tribal coalitions. Witnesses reported heavy artillery and mortar shelling by rival factions targeting residential areas of Sana'a. Hundreds of residents were reported fleeing Sana'a in late May and hundreds more were displaced within the capital, including people internally displaced from elsewhere in Yemen and refugees from Somalia. The violence had left at least 29 dead and hundreds injured by 7 June, including women and children, according to UN OCHA; other media reported hundreds killed and thousands displaced. A truce was in place but access to affected areas continued to be difficult and intermittent clashes were still reported.

According to the UN, over 260 people have been reportedly killed and close to 3,300 injured in Sana'a city and Abeyan governorate in southern Yemen since the start of civil unrest in February. In Zinjibar, the capital of Abeyan governorate, several thousand families have been displaced by heavy fighting between various military factions and militants allegedly linked to Al Qaida. As many as 95 per cent of the estimated population of 20,000 have been displaced. At least 4,700 IDPs have been registered in Lahj, and almost 10,000 more in various locations in Aden, but still more have reportedly been displaced.

Fighting between military units loyal to the government and opposing military units has also been reported in other locations in Abeyan governorate and in Taiz, Yemen's second largest city, which has seen some of the largest protests and the fiercest clampdown, and in neighbouring Ibb province.

Meanwhile in northern Yemen, continued fighting between Al Houthi and other opposition tribes and various military units in Jawf has caused the displacement of over 150 families. Heavy rains in Hajjah heave caused significant damage to shelters, and hindered service provision in IDP camps; however little is reported of the situation of the majority of IDPs who reside outside the camps.

The UN has urged all sides to accept a ceasefire. The United States, European Union, and Gulf states have condemned the serious human rights violations committed, and called for a cessation of hostilities and for the president to relinquish power. The international community has stopped short of imposing arms embargoes or individual sanctions similar to those in place against officials in Syria and Libya.