More than 200,000 people displaced since fighting in Yemen began

Since hostilities erupted in Yemen over a month ago, more than 200,000 individuals have been forced from their homes, according to the latest figures released by the UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Wednesday. The crisis, triggered by renewed clashes between Iran-backed Houthi rebels and Saudi-backed government troops, has seen displacement rates skyrocket from 76,000 in mid-September to over 200,000 as of Wednesday — nearly all of whom fled after the conflict began in early September.

IOM Director General Amy Pope described the situation as "alarming," with people fleeing their homes in terror, often with nowhere safe to turn. She appealed for greater resources to meet the growing demands for food and shelter. Yemen is witnessing the most intense surge in fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis since a UN-brokered truce largely ended cross-border attacks in 2022. This renewed conflict could alter the power dynamics in Yemen, with significant ramifications for Red Sea shipping routes.

The Houthis, who already control large swathes of northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, have seized the Red Sea coast entirely from Saudi-backed forces of the internationally recognized government, which is based in the southern port city of Aden. Displacement has been reported across ten governorates, with Taiz bearing the brunt of the crisis.

The UN World Food Programme revealed on Friday that three out of every four households in certain regions of Yemen are facing starvation due to the "absolutely devastating" consequences of the surge in violence.