Fighting in S. Arabia and N. Yemen Forces Evacuation of Villages

by Barbara McPherson | November 13, 2009 at 11:34 am

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The conflict between the Houthi fighters in Northern Yemen and the Saudi military has forced the evacuation of more than 200 villiages. Unicef has reported that 50 schools were shut due to the fighting as well.

"Unicef is deeply concerned about the escalation of the conflict in northern Yemen," Sigrid Kaag, the Unicef regional director for the Middle East, said in a statement.

"Fighting has now spilled over into Saudi Arabia, reportedly causing 240 villages to be evacuated."

Unicef said thousands of people in Yemen have also fled the fighting, with the number of displaced at a camp in Yemen's Hajjah governorate more than doubling in four weeks to 15,000 people.

This new Middle East 'hotspot' has erupted at the Saudis accuse the Houthi fighters of incursions into their territory. The Houthi fighters are rebelling against the government of Yemen. This conflict has been simmering for the past five years, but has heated up in recent months.
The Yemeni government has accused the Iranian government of meddling in its affairs.
The Saudi Kingdom is the world's largest supplier of petroleum. Most of the oil is exported via the Persian Gulf, but some is moved by way of pipelines. The East West Pipeline is north of Mecca and not in danger during this border conflict.

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