Saudi war against Houthis displaces 130,000 Yemenis as hunger crisis deepens

Saudi-led military action against the Houthi movement in Yemen has resulted in the displacement of 130,000 people since the start of September, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency. The conflict, which involves Saudi air strikes and fighting between government forces and the Houthis, has particularly impacted the city of Taiz, accounting for over 60% of the displacement.

Over 110 people, including 28 civilians, have been reported dead since the beginning of the month. Yemeni government forces reported that Saudi Arabia launched air strikes on Houthi sites west of Taiz province. However, no casualties were reported from these strikes. The Yemeni Prime Minister acknowledged that the Houthi capture of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a strategically important waterway, presents a "highly critical situation" but does not signal the end of the conflict.

The Ministry of Human Rights accused the Houthis of targeting a commercial complex in Lahj governorate with ballistic missiles, causing concern over the humanitarian impact. The World Food Programme warned that hunger is spreading, with many arriving in overcrowded camps with nothing, as Yemen relies heavily on food imports. Approximately 18 million people, or half the population, face acute food insecurity, and 2.2 million children under five are acutely malnourished.