SANA’A - More than 200,000 people have fled their homes amid renewed fighting in Yemen, nearly triple the 76,000 displaced as of mid-September, the U.N. International Organization for Migration said.
Nearly all of the newly displaced were forced to leave after a new round of fighting began in early September between the Iran-backed Houthis and forces of Yemen’s internationally recognized government, which is supported by Saudi Arabia.
Displacement has been recorded in 10 governorates, with Taiz facing the most severe conditions. More than 3,700 people have also crossed the sea to Djibouti. IOM Director General Amy Pope said the displaced population’s need for food and shelter is growing.
Fighting approaches a critical shipping route
The renewed escalation is the most serious since the 2022 truce largely halted cross-border attacks. Fighting now affects the Red Sea coast and areas near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a route used by about 12% of global trade.
The Houthis have reported new missile and drone attacks on Saudi airports and military sites, including Riyadh’s international airport. The Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted a ballistic missile north of the capital, briefly disrupting flights. The sides’ claims about targets struck have not been fully independently verified.
The U.N. World Food Programme said that in some parts of Yemen, three in four families already face severe food shortages. A further expansion of the fighting could deepen the humanitarian crisis and create additional risks for shipping between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Source: Vesti Baku.