“The International Organization for Migration (IOM) warns of a rapidly worsening displacement crisis in Yemen by the hour,” the UN agency said in a statement.
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The Houthis, who have controlled large parts of northern Yemen for many years, launched a large-scale offensive last week against Saudi Arabia-backed Yemeni government forces and won one victory after another in battles that have claimed hundreds of lives.
Since the Houthis declared a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia in July, “at least 76,000 people have fled their homes,” the IOM said.
“This is four times more than the total number last week as fighting intensifies,” the organization said, warning that “entire families are on the move, often at night. They have nowhere safe to go.”
An agency spokesperson told AFP news agency that more than 70,000 displaced persons have fled since early September alone.
This report came just a day after the agency said the number of displaced had reached 46,000 since the beginning of the month, compared to 18,500 reported on Tuesday.
On Friday, the Houthis took control of Yemen’s Red Sea coast, consolidating their control over the Bab el-Mandeb strait. This is a vital artery for Saudi oil exports, especially now that the Strait of Hormuz remains closed due to the US-Iran war.
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The IOM said people were forced to leave their homes in the western coast and Taiz areas.
Taiz was the hardest hit, with about 8,300 households or nearly 50,000 people displaced from districts in that province alone.
The IOM emphasized that many of these families had already been displaced before, some multiple times during the 12-year-long conflict in Yemen.
“They are exhausted. Their resources are depleted. Many fled with nothing but the clothes they were wearing,” the organization said.
IOM teams on the ground are distributing emergency aid, including shelters and hygiene kits, but warn that “needs far exceed what we can provide.”
“The situation is worsening daily. The number of displaced persons is expected to rise further in the coming days,” they said.
