Despite the fact that Sa'ada clashes involving Houthi rebels and the state army stopped seven months ago; reconstruction operation and deliverance of human relief materials for displaced locals are still unachievable. 

Several charity and relief organizations have tried so far to implement relief projects as is the case with Islah Social Welfare Society (ISWS) which signed an agreement with UNICEF to deliver societal food and medical intervention project within the frame of support provided for the displaced people of Sa'ada.

The project, initiated on September 20, 2008, is financed by UNICEF at $47,000. At the first stage, 39 heath workers were trained and six centers for societal treatment were inaugurated. The project also seeks to implement different studies to evaluate the health situation for mothers.

Moreover, over 1,500 children were treated for malnutrition and 9,360 packets of medical food (known as PB5) were distributed to undernourished children. Over 384 cases were treated through societal surveys. Severe malnourishment was reduced to 25 percent.

Director of ISWS branch in Sa'ada Mohammed Salem noted that his organization implemented several relief projects in 2008 in the camps of refugees including the distribution of full sets of house furniture and kitchens.

Also, clothes were distributed to the displaced locals in Al-Anad Camp – one of the biggest camps – as well as sponsoring orphans. They are still enlisted in 2009 plan.

Hindrances before relief acts

Previous statistics estimated the number of displaced locals to be 70,000 by the time the war ended in July 17, 2008. The number of locals being afflicted by war events was estimated by then to be 250,000.

?Also, the engineers of Sa'ada Reconstruction Fund – 30 in number – started striking from continuing their evaluative works of damages after tribesmen in Al-Shat area in Sahar district had intercepted and took their engineers' car by force.

A large number of displaced locals demonstrated in several camps demanding their shares of provisional and relief materials distributed by charity and relief organizations. Mediation efforts were concentrated in areas that had witnessed serious differences between Houthis and pro-government tribes in Khawlan, Haydan, Saqeen, Bani Obad and Magz.

There have been several blockage of Sana'a-Sa'ada highway by locals who are demanding their rights from the government or releasing their fellow tribesmen detained by Houthis. The last blockade has been existent for two months.

Reconstruction Fund resumes work

Following a previous meeting for the fund's board of directors, it was approved then to add six people to the board. This brings to 13 the number of Reconstruction Fund members which includes the governor, the secretary general of Sa'ada province, Sa'ada Radio Station Manager Mohammed Salem Azan, Abdul Khaliq Bishr from dignitaries and Fuad Al-Shami from civil society organizations as well as Qassim Al-Ajem.

In its first meeting, fund members discussed the different mechanisms for delivering compensations sums. This was confined to houses with partial damages whose owners are working on restoring them, while payment of compensations sums for the completely demolished houses was delayed.

This was justified by the fact that these sums are big especial
Yemen Post Staff