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Sana'a: A total of 4,141 houses and 88 farms were damaged in the northern province of Sa'ada during the war between Al Houthi rebels and government troops, a primary official report said.
The report, prepared by the state-run Saba news agency, said around 201 public institutions, including 116 schools, 36 health utilities and 26 mosques were also either wholly of partially damaged.
The report came after information that the committee in charge of estimating the damages of the war had returned to Sana'a after disputes over its performance and which areas it should start with.
In Nishoor, one of the worst affected areas, a military car intercepted the committee, which included ministers and the governor of Sa'ada, and forced them to return to Sana'a last week, according to sources.
Accusation
Local tribesmen accused the committee of focusing only on Al Houthi areas, the sources said.
"There is no area belonging to Al Houthi. All areas in Yemen are subject to the sovereignty of the state," said Abdul Qader Hilal, minister of local administration, who is also the chairman of the damages committee, after he returned to Sana'a.
When asked if the committee will return to Sa'ada, he said, "To treat and heal the wounds of the war, we need patience, responsibility, severity and seriousness." At the same time, he said sub-committees had been formed to continue to estimate damages in the affected areas.
In some papers, independent but supported by senior officials, the end of the war was considered as a "victory for rebels, defeat for the state and betrayal of the blood of martyrs".
Local residents seem to be happy with the end of the war. "A lot of people are happy the war is over, and they say the decision was very wise," said Mohammad Salem Azan, at Sa'ada local radio.
The rebel leader, Abdul Malek Al Houthi, says the end of the war has come after "oral understandings" between him and President Ali Abdullah Saleh through local mediation.
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