Refugee crisis looms in Yemen - 09 Oct 09

John Holmes, a senior United Nations humanitarian official, has been visiting refugees in Yemen left homeless by the fighting between government troops and Houthi fighters.

"We can't assess just how serious the situation in the Saada governorate is because we don't have access there for the main international organisations, although there are, of course, non-governmental organisations like the Islamic Relief and we are able to provide some form of assistance," Holmes told Al Jazeera.

"This is precisely what I am here to discuss and assess to do the best we can in the circumstances."

The Yemeni government is concerned that the battle could become a prolonged conflict forcing it to seek international assistance for the internally displaced people.

Since early September, 30,000 internally displaced persons have been in refugee camps and 120,000 more are in need of aid, according to the UN.

Calls for a ceasefire by international aid agencies have been rejected by both sides.

The conflict between the Houthi fighters, who belong to the Shia Zaidi sect, and government forces first broke out in 2004, but last month the fighting intensified as the group pushed to topple the government.

Hashem Ahelbarra reports from the al-Mazraq camp in Hajjah, north of the country.

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