Surge in Displacement Following Fighting in Southwest Yemen

Yemen: At least 46,000 people have been displaced since renewed fighting last week between Houthi rebels and pro-government forces in southwestern Yemen, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported on Friday. The figure is rising by the hour. According to United Nations, Houthi fighters have seized the strategic Red Sea port of Mokha, triggering mass departures. The number approaching 50,000, which as of Thursday covered the governorates of West Coast and Taiz, is alarmingly rising by the hour, the UN agency warned. Overnight, large numbers of people were reportedly seen leaving Mokha with their possessions, after the strategic port city fell under Houthi control earlier this week. The conflict between the Houthis and Yemeni Government forces, backed by a Saudi Arabia-led coalition, has escalated since 2014. After years of relative calm, Yemen plunged back into war in July due to the regional conflict triggered in late February by the US-Israeli offensive against Iran. The recent clashes hav e resulted in hundreds of deaths on both sides, mainly combatants, according to media reports. As the conflict escalates between the Houthis and Saudi forces, there are reports of pro-government forces withdrawing from an island base in the narrow Bab al-Mandab Strait, with militants threatening to target Saudi shipping routes. Amy Pope, the IOM Director General, stated that families are being forced to flee for the second or third time since the conflict's inception, often with nothing left. As fighting spreads, reaching people with lifesaving assistance is becoming increasingly difficult. New arrivals have been reported in the governorates of Lahj and Aden, with reports of people moving north towards Ibb. IOM indicated that entire villages have been emptied in three districts in Taiz - Maqbanah, Jabal Habashi, and Al Maafer - as fighting nears populated areas. The road linking Mokha to Taiz, a critical supply route, has reportedly been cut off, increasing pressure on host communities in the region. The organization is urgently calling for safe and sustained humanitarian access and the protection of aid workers and infrastructure. This is particularly critical as emergency stocks are depleted following recent flood relief efforts. The immediate needs include shelter, food, water, household items, health care, and protection support. The escalation has also severely impacted civilians. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that at least 14 civilians, including two children, have been killed or wounded since the start of the month. The World Health Organization (WHO) recorded 67 deaths and 288 injuries between August 6-24 in several governorates. The resumption of fighting is severely straining Yemen's already fragile health system. Hospitals in Marib, Hadramaut, and Taiz are overwhelmed with trauma patients, further pressuring emergency, surgical, and intensive care units. According to WHO, only 60 per cent of Yemen's health facilities are fully operational, facing both increased demand and limited capacity. At Marib General Hospital, maternity and obstetrics services have been temporarily suspended to allocate more resources for treating the wounded. This reallocation is affecting all patients as facilities struggle with shortages of staff, beds, and medical supplies.