YEMEN TO LAUNCH HUMANITARIAN APPEAL TO SUPPORT DISPLACED PEOPLE

HODEIDAH, Nov.25 (Saba) - Under-Secretary General of United Nations
John Holmes is expected to launch a humanitarian appeal in 2010
aiming at ensuring support for the displaced people from Saada
province with a total amount of $177 million.

This came in a statement by Minister of Public Health and Population
Abdul Karim Rase'a on Wednesday who affirmed that his ministry in
coordination with UN organizations working in Yemen is currently
preparing studies on displaced people conditions before launching
the humanitarian appeal.

Rase'a made it clear to Saba that officials from the health
ministry, UNICEF and UAE embassy in Sana'a would visit the camp of
displaced people in al-Merzaq area, Hajjah province, to get
acquainted with the displaced conditions in the camp.

The officials will hold meetings with specialists in the concerned
authorities to identify the camp's needs and the most important
services that can be provided to the displaced, Rase'a added.

For her part, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North
Africa, Sigrid Kaag indicated that her visit to al-Merzaq camp aims
at recognizing the services offered to children in the camps and
what the organization can present in this field.

Kaag affirmed the UN organizations' keenness on presenting help for
the displaced.

Saada province has seen some of the worst fighting between the
government and Houthi rebels.

The fighting has displaced about 175,000 people in Yemen's northwest
Saada province, according to the United Nations.

Al- Houthi rebels have been launching intermittent wars against the
troops since 2004.

Since the fighting erupted in 2004, thousands of people, soldiers
and insurgents have been killed in Saada province, which located
close to border with Saudi Arabia, after the rebel group was founded
by rebel leader Hussein al- Houthi.


BA