On Sunday, November 24, 2024, the Director of Planning in Marib Governorate, Engineer Saleh Al-Saqqaf, expressed regret over recent statements made by the Deputy Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, Saleh Mahmoud, regarding the displacement camps in Marib.

In an exclusive interview with Barran Press, Al-Saqqaf commented on Mahmoud's remarks during a recent appearance on the "Press Talk" program aired by Aden Independent, which is affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council.

Al-Saqqaf expressed his astonishment at what he described as the "contradictions" in Mahmoud's statements, where he claimed to have found over 70 camps in Marib that were merely "formal and empty."

The planning director pointed out that Mahmoud had visited Marib five months earlier, during which he observed the conditions of the displaced and emphasized the need to improve their living situations by upgrading their shelters from temporary accommodations to more permanent housing.

He noted that Mahmoud's recent comments contradict both his previous statements during the visit and reports from the United Nations, which acknowledge the presence of two million displaced individuals in Marib. Al-Saqqaf also mentioned that Prime Minister Ahmed bin Mubarak and several ministers visited Marib two months ago to assess the conditions in various displacement camps.

"We have a regional office for UN organizations in Marib and dozens of international NGOs," he affirmed, stating that these organizations directly manage 88 out of a total of 204 camps, while the remaining camps are overseen by the Executive Unit for Managing Displacement Camps.

Al-Saqqaf questioned whether the reports from the UN, the central government, local authorities, and the reality on the ground were mere fabrications about empty camps that Mahmoud claimed to have discovered after ten years of displacement.

He emphasized that the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor is one of the key ministries responsible for humanitarian issues, and he expects it to assist millions of displaced individuals by facilitating humanitarian aid for their essential needs, including food, shelter, health, and education.

On November 23, the Executive Unit for Managing Displacement Camps in Marib deemed Mahmoud's statements "unfounded and contrary to the field reality." In a statement sent to Barran Press, the unit stated that there are currently 204 camps housing millions of displaced people.

The unit held Mahmoud responsible for any repercussions stemming from these misleading comments, which could undermine humanitarian response efforts in the governorate and tarnish Marib's reputation as a safe haven for millions of displaced individuals.

Furthermore, the unit called on official authorities to take swift action and issue a clarifying statement to refute these claims and correct misinformation, asserting their legal rights and determination to counter any attempts to downplay the suffering of displaced persons and distort the facts.