Around 80,000 people displaced in Yemen since September surge in hostilities began

Since the escalation in hostilities in Yemen began on September 3, approximately 80,000 people have been displaced, according to UN figures. The fight reached Mokha port on Thursday, and the entire west coast of Yemen fell under Houthi control a day later. UN representatives believe these numbers may be higher than initially reported, but access challenges make it difficult to confirm.

Warring parties are hesitant to engage in diplomacy to ease tensions, particularly along the western coast. This reluctance was evident even before the Houthi takeover of the west coast following the fall of the strategic Mokha port, which is crucial for the Bab Al Mandeb waterway. Anger arose due to calls for cessation of hostilities from both the government and the Houthis.

Doctors Without Borders reported that their hospital in Aden is preparing for mass casualties arriving from the front lines, while the organization itself is facing challenges in patient referral due to instability. The medical charity emphasized the high and stressful situation for both residents and their teams, with remaining staff providing critical support.

MSF teams are also present at Al Jumhuriyah Educational Hospital in Aden, providing essential care for various medical needs, including maternity, pediatric care, and treatment for illnesses like cholera. The organization is exploring ways to reinforce their team in Mokha, though security concerns make this difficult. The fighting coincides with a significant wave of US-Iran attacks on Gulf shipping, and the Houthi expansion along Yemen's Red Sea coast was reportedly guided by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.

Iran has promised additional support to the Houthis, including funding, weapons, and senior officers. A former British ambassador noted that the capture of Mokha may indicate a failure by the US to recognize the Yemeni front as integral to the Iran war. The Yemeni civil war, which began in 2014, has seen over 22 million people requiring humanitarian assistance, 5.2 million internally displaced, and 18.3 million acutely food-insecure, according to March UN data. Ongoing hostilities are expected to exacerbate these challenges.