More Yemenis expected to flee from upsurge in fighting, UN says
A UNHCR response plan for Yemen was less than 20% funded before the renewed violence caused a surge in needs, a statement said.
The UN refugee agency warned on Tuesday that tens of thousands more people could be forced from their homes in Yemen due to escalating violence, which has already displaced over 130,000 individuals this month. Babar Baloch, a UNHCR spokesperson, stated during a press briefing in Geneva that intensifying fighting in the region could lead to mass displacement, with a significant number of people expected to flee both within Yemen and to neighboring countries like Djibouti, Somalia, and beyond.
According to Baloch's projections, an additional 100,000 people could be displaced within the next three months. The conflict, which pits Iran-backed Houthi fighters against Saudi-backed government forces, has seen the Houthi fighters advance this month, seizing control of the Red Sea coast and extending the Middle East conflict to a new theater.
While most of those displaced so far remain inside Yemen, more than 3,000 people have fled by boat across the Red Sea to Africa, a figure that could potentially rise to 10,000 next month as calmer seas are anticipated to encourage more departures. However, the UNHCR's response plan for Yemen remains significantly underfunded, currently funded at less than 20% of the required amount prior to the new wave of violence that has exacerbated the need for assistance.
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- UN warns 230,000 Yemenis could be displaced if fighting continues middleeasteye.net
- More Yemenis expected to flee from upsurge in fighting, UN says al-monitor.com
