Mukalla, Yemen – A Yemeni family faced significant challenges as they fled their home near al-Khokha due to a military offensive by the Iran-backed Houthis. On September 9, Saeed Hassan, 58, learned from his sons about the withdrawal of Yemeni government forces from the front lines. Concerned about the situation, he decided to leave his home and urged his brother Mohammed and his family to join him.
Saeed described witnessing a large number of soldiers and military equipment withdrawing from their positions. That evening, they fled their home, which they had settled in after being displaced from the countryside near Hodeidah in 2018. The Houthis had launched a significant military offensive a week earlier, heavily shelling government-held areas before advancing.
As the family prepared to leave, they took only essential items, leaving behind their belongings. They initially planned to spend the night in Mocha but were forced to move quickly due to the Houthi advance. Saeed loaded luggage into his pick-up truck, while Mohammed traveled in another vehicle with his family. After departing around 9:30 PM, they learned that locals had dismantled their homes shortly after they left.
On the road, they encountered soldiers abandoning their weapons amid explosions and gunfire. Saeed noted the chaos, with soldiers discarding their uniforms and weapons in an effort to evade capture by the Houthis. The families faced further challenges, including a flat tire and a lack of food and water.
Upon reaching Mocha, they found the city largely deserted, with retreating soldiers passing through. Saeed queued for food, which had become scarce and expensive. By the evening, he and his family reached Aden, where they sought shelter in a school for displaced people.
Mohammed arrived later, receiving assistance from a soldier who provided water. The brothers described their escape as miraculous, noting that their vehicles managed to travel approximately 300 km (185 miles) without refueling. They eventually reached Mukalla on September 16, a week after fleeing.
Now renting a flat in Mukalla, the families are struggling to find work and are living off their savings. The Executive Unit for the Management of Displaced Persons Camps reported that nearly 200,000 people have been displaced since early September, with many lacking basic necessities. Mohammed Awadh, head of the government unit in Mukalla, confirmed that displaced individuals are in urgent need of assistance. Fatima, Mohammed's wife, expressed concern about repaying debts to clothing traders, highlighting the financial strain on their family.