Over 100,000 Displaced as Yemen Fighting Escalates, UN Warns of Humanitarian Crisis

More than 100,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in Yemen as fighting between the Houthi movement and forces loyal to the internationally recognised government intensifies, the United Nations has said.

The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said on Tuesday that rapidly escalating hostilities along Yemen’s western coast had displaced more than 100,000 people within the country, while thousands more were taking dangerous sea routes to neighbouring Djibouti in search of safety.

The latest wave of displacement has increased pressure on communities and humanitarian facilities that are already struggling with limited resources.

UNHCR warned that the continuing violence could further worsen Yemen’s humanitarian situation, with displaced families urgently requiring shelter, food, clean water, healthcare and protection services.

The agency said it needs an estimated $14 million in additional funding to respond to the immediate needs of displaced people inside Yemen.

It added that further assistance would be required to support those crossing into Djibouti.

“Many families fled at short notice with few belongings,” UNHCR said, noting that displacement sites and host communities were becoming increasingly overstretched.

The conflict has also placed more than 65,000 registered refugees and asylum seekers living in Yemen at greater risk.

Most of them are from Somalia and Ethiopia and are now facing additional insecurity as fighting spreads.

According to UNHCR, more than 2,400 people crossed the Bab al-Mandeb Strait to Djibouti in just four days. Most of those arriving were women, children and older people.

The Bab al-Mandeb is a strategically important maritime passage linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and is one of the world’s major shipping routes.

The latest displacement followed a rapid Houthi advance along Yemen’s western coast, including the seizure of areas around the Red Sea port city of Mocha.

Residents caught up in the fighting described fleeing with little time to gather their belongings, amid shelling, sniper fire and fears for the safety of their families.

A displaced woman, Aisha Muhammad, said she was forced to leave five of her children behind in their village near Mocha after the area was overrun by Houthi fighters.

She said her children were trapped in their homes as movement became increasingly dangerous, with the family surviving on limited food supplies.

“They are being blocked and shot at, so they are trapped inside their homes,” Muhammad said, adding that her daughters had contacted her and expressed a desire to join the rest of the family but were unable to make the journey.

Another displaced resident, Hussein Haydara, who fled Hodeidah with his family, said the escalation gave residents little opportunity to prepare for their escape.

He said families were forced to leave quickly, taking only a few essential belongings as they attempted to avoid shelling and sniper fire.

The dangerous journey has continued beyond Yemen, with displaced people risking their lives at sea to reach Djibouti.

Sandrine Desamours, UNHCR’s representative in Djibouti, said many of those arriving after crossing the Bab al-Mandeb were exhausted and distressed.

“People are arriving after a difficult sea journey, many exhausted, distressed and carrying what little they could take with them,” she said.

The latest escalation comes as Yemen continues to face a prolonged humanitarian crisis following years of conflict and political instability.

Humanitarian organisations have repeatedly warned that renewed fighting could increase civilian suffering, disrupt access to essential services and force more families from their homes.

The UN is calling for increased international support to assist displaced communities in Yemen and people arriving in Djibouti as the conflict continues to threaten the safety and livelihoods of thousands of civilians.

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