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| Arabia | ||
| Yemen: Rebels block key highway | ||
| 2009-12-01 | ||
[ADN Kronos] Armed militants have blocked the main highway in southern Yemen leaving dozens of people stranded for the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha. According to the Arab TV network, Al-Arabiya, many were people travelling from the north were unable to reach the southern port city of Aden for the festival.
Yemen, an impoverished country of 23 million people, is also fighting a revolt by Shia Muslims in the north, while Saudi and Yemeni Al-Qaeda militants have been blamed for carrying out attacks in the last two years.
UNICEF on Thursday drew attention to the plight of the youngest victims of the ongoing conflict between government forces and rebels. "They are living in difficult conditions, away from their homes and schools despite significant humanitarian relief efforts," said Sigrid Kaag, UNICEF's regional director for the Middle East and North Africa. "We continue to urge all parties to respect their obligations under humanitarian law and make protection of children a priority," she added. Kaag just wrapped up a three-day mission to Yemen, where an estimated 175,000 people have been affected by conflict since 2004, including those displaced by the latest surge in fighting between the government and Houthi rebels. According to UNICEF, the current crisis only worsens an already difficult situation for children and women in Yemen, where mortality among children under five is high at 69 per 1,000 live births. She visited the Al-Mazrak camp, which currently houses around 10,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs), and met mothers and children who have been forced to flee their homes. | ||
| Posted by:Fred |