SANAA, Yemen, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- The level of conflict between government forces and al-Houthi rebels in north Yemen forced the Red Cross to relocate many of its staff, officials say.
Government forces stepped up their attacks against al-Houthi rebels Aug. 12 in the northern province of Sadah. Relief organizations said the conflict has created a humanitarian disaster due to the rising number of internally displaced persons.
Jean-Nicolas Marti, the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross delegation in Yemen, said the conflict has forced many staffers out of the region.
"Deteriorating security conditions have forced us to temporarily relocate our foreign staff, who are exhausted after having spent weeks in the conflict zone," he said.
He noted that as the conflict drags on, ICRC officials are growing "increasingly concerned" about the welfare of the civilian population. Aid groups and the United Nations said the fighting has displaced roughly 50,000 people in the past month. In addition, the United Nations said many of its appeals for aid were ignored.
Nevertheless, Marti said his staffers would return as soon as they could despite the limited access to conflict zones.
"They will return to Sadah as soon as possible," he said of his representatives.
