Number of displaced in Yemen rises to 233,077 as Taiz faces worsening crisis

Since the conflict escalated in June, the number of displaced individuals in Yemen has surged to 233,077, with Taiz province accounting for over 121,000 of these displaced people, according to the International Organization for Migration. The organization expressed serious concerns about the humanitarian risks faced by civilians, particularly women, children, and vulnerable groups, amid ongoing clashes that have forced tens of thousands of families to flee their homes.

Speaking at a press conference in Geneva, IOM spokesperson Zoe Brennan emphasized the urgent need to protect the displaced and meet their basic needs, as well as the critical situation in Taiz province, which is grappling with deteriorating humanitarian and health conditions due to continued fighting and restricted access to aid.

The United Nations humanitarian agencies have called for an immediate end to the escalation and persistent access to relief for all those in need across Yemen.

In Taiz city, the World Health Organization has issued a stark warning about the worsening health conditions. Spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic highlighted that the city has become isolated as clashes encroach upon urban areas, leading to severe shortages of medical supplies, fuel, oxygen, and medicines at 12 hospitals within the city.

Only four days' worth of fuel remains, leaving patients with life-sustaining treatments in dire straits. The lack of essential supplies, including oxygen and medicines, coupled with depleted surgical resources, has painted a grim picture of the urgent need for power and oxygen, particularly for dialysis and intensive care patients.

Jasarevic stressed the critical need for safe and sustained humanitarian access to Taiz and across Yemen to support the displaced population, ensure their basic needs are met, and alleviate the strain on health facilities facing increasing pressure due to the ongoing conflict.