Sana'a, Yemen  - The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Friday asked for easier access to areas in conflict-hit north- western Yemen where it was nearly impossible to carry out relief work.

"Except in Saada city and its immediate vicinity, it remains difficult or impossible for the ICRC to operate in the conflict zones of northern Yemen," a statement from the aid agency said.

More than 15,500 displaced people were still living in difficult conditions in camps near the provincial capital of Saada and thousands more were scattered around areas hit by the conflict, ICRC said.

Saada, a remote mountainous province located near the border with Saudi Arabia, has been the scene of fierce fighting between Shiite rebels loyal to the outlawed Believing Youth group - known as Houthis - and government forces, since mid-2004.

Waves of violent clashes have left hundreds of government troops and rebels dead, and displaced thousands more civilians from the restive province.

On July 17, Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh announced the end of the conflicts in Saada and said they would "never resume." The ceasefire was based on an agreement signed by the rebels and the Yemeni government, in Doha in June 2007.

"The security situation has often prevented the ICRC from responding to the most urgent humanitarian needs in a timely and adequate manner," the international aid organization said.

The agency said lack of clean water and medical care was particularly serious for the displaced, the sick, the wounded and isolated communities.

The conflict began in mid-2004 after Shiite cleric Hussein al- Houthi, established the Believing Youth movement and organized a series of protests in Sana'a and other major cities against the United States and Israel.

Hussein was killed by the army in September 2004. (dpa)