Al Mukalla: The governor of the northern province of Jawf, Hussain Al Awadhi said on Wednesday that government officials who were based in the neighbouring Marib province have returned to the province’s capital, Hazm, a month after liberating the city from Al Houthis.
Speaking to Gulf News from his office in Hazm, Al Awadhi said that security situation in the city has significantly improved since government forces and resistance fighters took charge.
“There are no more security problems since here,” he said.
Government forces and local tribesmen recaptured main cities in the large province of Jawf last month after heavy clashes with Iran-backed Al Houthi militants and forces loyal to ousted Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh.
The governor sent an emergency appeal to local, regional and international aid organisations to send humanitarian aid to thousands of displaced people whose houses were destroyed during the fighting and help bringing back vital services like drinking water and electricity.
“There are thousands of homeless whose houses were knocked down by Al Houthis,” he said. “Before they retreated they stole power generators, drinking water pumps, destroyed electricity towers and damaged water pipelines,” he said.
“They also planted many landmines.”
The fight has now moved further out to the regions of Al Ghail, Sadba and Al Aqba’a after a string of gains on the ground by Yemeni forces backed by Arab coalition fighters.
Last year, Al Houthi fighters backed by Saleh loyalists captured Hazm. Thousands of people fled the Marib province.
Meanwhile in southern city of Taiz, Al Houthi shelling killed a child and injured two people in Al Wazea district.
The militants have imposed a brutal siege on the heavily populated city since March in an attempt to force resistance fighters to surrender.
Al Houthis have been indiscriminately shelling the city from the suburbs, killing hundreds of civilians and sparking a grave humanitarian crisis.
