What’s happening in Yemen today

4.15.2015 edition

By the Reported.ly Team

We are creating a daily rundown of events in Yemen as Saudi Arabian-led airstrikes against Houthis that began March 26 continue. The Houthi militia has been fighting the Yemeni government for nearly a decade, and in recent months has made enormous gains across the country, including capturing the capital, Sana’a.

For an explanation of what happened in the first few days of the military action, read our synopsis.

Update 4:58 p.m. ET (11:59 p.m. GMT)

Saudi Arabia and Yemen share a long history, says ambassador to reporters in D.C.

Saudi Ambassador to the U.S. Adel Al-Jubeir told reporters today that airstrikes have been a success so far.

He also spoke about links between Yemen and Saudi Arabia and why the coalition had to act.

Coalition spokesperson: Continued movements along Saudi borders

In his daily press briefing, coalition spokesperson Brig. Gen Ahmed Asiri said that border guards are targeting “gatherings and movements” along the Saudi-Yemen border, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency.

…there are almost daily movements by the militias towards the Saudi southern borders, mainly in Najran sector and that the land forces yesterday launched an operation on these elements and eliminated them, reaffirming that the situation is still under control there.

IOM: Only have funds for two more evacuations

Director of Operations and Emergencies at the International Organization for Migration, Mohammed Abdiker, said via Twitter that the situation in Yemen is extremely fragile.

Despite constant IOM flights evacuating many country’s citizens, they are running out of funds.

City reports

Note: Citizen reports of airstrikes and the resulting impact on their lives have been tough for us to confirm. Use your best judgement.

Taiz

Multiple reports of clashes between Houthis and other forces in Taiz, one of Yemen’s largest cities.

Translation: O sons of Taiz! Most Huthi left Aden, Hodeidah, Ibb, returned to defend the Saada stronghold. The next battle with the tribes that…

Ibb

Witness Moe Muntz says fighting can be heard as Houthis travel toward Taiz.

Maareb

In the southeast portion of Yemen, ICRC says they’re having trouble getting to the city.

Sana’a

Struggles for power continued today in Sana’a, where electricity seemed spotty at best.

Humanitarian issues: Undelivered supplies, few ambulance

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Supply deliveries are still difficult in Aden.

UNICEF has not been able to deliver vital cleaning materials to Al Jamhouri hospital due to insecurity.

Ambulances across the country are still hard to come by, UNOCHA says.

Due to shortages of ambulances, WHO is coordinating with the Ministry of Public Health and Population to redistribute available ambulances to governorates with the largest numbers of injured patients. However, more ambulances are urgently needed to ensure effective trauma management and timely referrals.

Update 10 a.m ET

Already dramatic food insecurity worsening

Amid constant reports of food shortages, the Food and Agriculture Organization warned that the conflict in Yemen is disrupting crop planting. 11 million of Yemen’s 26 million people were already severely food insecure before the conflict. Yemen relies on imports for over 80% of its national food consumption, including 90% of staple food items, while 90% of the country’s water resources are used in agriculture.

“We are entering a crucial period for crop production in Yemen and now, more than ever, agriculture cannot be an afterthought.”

A full naval blockade by the coalition is preventing food shipments from reaching the affected population.

“The absence of imports is now pushing food and fuel prices out of reach of even more people.” -Oxfam

Reverse migration for Somali refugees

Reverse migration of Somalis might soon dwarf every other evacuation operation from Yemen. The ICRC is preparing to receive thousands of Somali refugees, out of the estimated 250,000 who have sought refuge in Yemen since 1991, when the civil war started in their homeland.

This highly challenging project will be further complicated by the Kenyan government’s concurrent plan to close down Dabaab, until recently the world’s largest refugee camp, and forcibly repatriate up to 350,000 Somali refugees. Somalis in Yemen are reportedly protesting their home government’s support for the Saudi-led offensive.

Repatriation of Yemenis stranded abroad

Amid high-profile ongoing evacuations out of the country, thousands of Yemeni nationals stranded abroad had received little attention so far. President Hadi’s government spokesperson in Washington tweeted that daily flights will begin transporting them to Yemen.

Note: Citizen reports of airstrikes and the resulting impact on their lives have been tough for us to confirm. Use your best judgement.

Sana’a

Airstrikes on the capital are now reported to be starting early in the morning. Electricity outages, long a staple of life in the Yemeni capital, are now ongoing due to the airstrikes, as are food and petrol shortages.

Aden

Clashes between Houthi forces and president Hadi’s supporters have turned Yemen’s second-biggest city into a ghost town. Coalition airstrikes targeted Houthi positions in the city, and residents reported three casualties from random shelling of residential areas by the Houthis.

A hard to verify mosaic of photos of purported casualties in Aden was published on Twitter.

Also, in recent days, photos of women wielding assault rifles to purportedly fight the Houthis in Aden have appeared on Twitter.