Yemen : 93 Fires in Marib IDP Camps Leave 10 Dead

Marib – Internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Marib governorate recorded 93 fire incidents between January and June this year, resulting in the deaths of 10 people and injuries to three others, according to Mohammed Al-Saeedi, Director of Monitoring and Evaluation at the Executive Unit for IDP Camp Management.

The figures underscore the scale of challenges facing displaced communities in Marib, which hosts Yemen’s largest concentration of IDPs. Hundreds of thousands live in camps and temporary shelters, most built from highly flammable materials.

Recurring Tragedy  

Fires not only cause material losses but also exacerbate the fragile humanitarian situation of displaced families. A blaze that consumes a family’s shelter destroys not just tents and belongings but also the fragile stability they have managed to build after years of displacement.

Al-Saeedi explained that many affected families lose their homes and meager possessions entirely, forcing them into a new cycle of hardship as they search for alternative shelter and basic necessities.

Humanitarian workers note that most fires stem from unsafe cooking methods, electrical faults in improvised networks, soaring temperatures, and overcrowded camps where shelters are built in close proximity all factors that accelerate the spread of flames.

Beyond Immediate Losses  

The impact of fires extends deeply into the psychological and humanitarian sphere, particularly for children and women who suddenly find themselves without shelter or basic belongings. These incidents increase the already heavy reliance of displaced families on limited aid.

Experts warn that the loss of shelter, personal documents, and simple household tools further erodes the resilience of IDPs, making them more dependent on emergency assistance at a time when humanitarian response is strained by declining funding.