158 Families Flee Houthi Shelling in Hodeidah, Seek Safety

Continuous artillery, missile, and drone shelling by the Houthi militia has forced 158 families to flee their homes in Yemen's Hodeidah Governorate, seeking refuge in the districts of Hays and Khokha amid dire humanitarian conditions and a severe lack of essential supplies.

Humanitarian sources reported that 124 families displaced to Hays District, originating from Al-Jarrahi, Jabal Ras, and Maqbanah Shamir in Taiz Governorate. An additional 34 families arrived in Khokha District, having fled Al-Jarrahi, Jabal Ras, the peaks of Dubbas mountains north of Hays, and other areas within Hodeidah Governorate.

The displaced families escaped escalating Houthi attacks that targeted civilian areas, homes, and displacement camps. Many were forced to sleep outdoors or seek shelter under rocks in locations lacking basic services, highlighting an urgent need for shelter, food, relief, and humanitarian aid.

Recent incidents include Houthi mortar shelling on civilian homes in the coastal Al-Haima area of Al-Tuhayta District, which injured a woman and a young man with shrapnel wounds. On Tuesday, the militia launched missile and artillery attacks on populated areas in Khokha and Hays, resulting in the deaths of three civilians and injuries to two young sisters in separate incidents.

Jamal Mashra'i, Director-General of the Executive Unit for the Management of Camps for the Displaced in Hodeidah, stated that the unit, in coordination with the Access Humanitarian Organization and the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, has begun providing shelter to the displaced. Interventions have included shelter for 57 families, with materials also provided by the International Rescue Committee and 90 emergency kits from the International Organization for Migration.

However, Mashra'i noted that the remaining displaced families have yet to receive any relief response and appealed to international and local organizations for urgent intervention to meet their basic needs. He emphasized that the lack of food aid exacerbates the suffering of these families amidst ongoing displacement and deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the western coastal regions.

Since early July, the Houthi militia has intensified its military escalation and attacks on civilian and vital infrastructure, including the port of Mocha and various areas in the western coast and Marib Governorate. These actions have resulted in numerous civilian casualties, significant property damage, and the disruption of livelihoods for thousands, all occurring under what is described as a concerning international silence.