The local authorities in Marib province, located in northeastern Yemen, announced "decisive" measures on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, to prevent land encroachment and crack down on what they described as "squatters and brokers" involved in illegal land transactions.

The measures were announced during a meeting of the Land Committee in the province, chaired by Deputy Governor Abdulrabuh Miftah. The committee reviewed its plans and working mechanisms following the decision to establish it by Sheikh Sultan Al-Aradah, the governor of Marib, as stated on the official website of Marib province.

The committee took action against those who encroach upon state lands, aiming to "deter squatters and brokers in this regard, restore matters to their proper state, and remove any ongoing encroachments."

The committee emphasized that it will not recognize or accept the validity of any documents related to state properties that were not issued by authorized legal trustees and officially accredited real estate offices responsible for issuing ownership documents for lands and properties belonging to the state.

Furthermore, the committee stressed the "necessity of pursuing brokers who have issued illegal documents and engaged in unlawful buying and selling."

It reaffirmed that "the sale and purchase of lands and temporary houses in displacement camps is illegal since they are private properties allowed for temporary residence by the displaced people until the owners need them back."

The committee directed security forces not to allow the entry of any construction materials into the camps and gatherings of the displaced people in the province.

Marib province hosts several displacement camps, which have received the largest number of internally displaced people in the country, according to government reports, with the number exceeding three million displaced individuals.

The local authorities have permitted the displaced people in the camps to establish temporary houses to alleviate the suffering they have endured after being displaced and fleeing from the ongoing war caused by the internationally recognized terrorist group, the Houthi rebels.