More than 100,000 displaced as they flee violence in Yemen: UN

What the report says

The United Nations says more than 100,000 people have fled rising violence in Yemen as fighting intensifies between Houthi forces and the internationally recognised government. In a statement reported by Al Jazeera, the UN Refugee Agency said the surge in hostilities along Yemen’s western coast has displaced large numbers of people inside the country and driven thousands more to attempt a dangerous sea crossing to Djibouti via the Bab al-Mandeb strait.

The UNHCR warned that the situation could deepen Yemen’s already severe humanitarian crisis, with communities and displacement sites under strain. It said it needs about $14 million in new funding to address immediate needs for families inside Yemen, while also supporting arrivals in Djibouti. The agency said shelter, food, clean water, health care and protection are among the most urgent requirements. It also noted that more than 65,000 registered refugees and asylum seekers in Yemen, mainly from Somalia and Ethiopia, are now at risk because of the fighting.

According to the report, the displacement followed a rapid Houthi advance along the Red Sea coast, including areas near the strategic port of Mocha and Hodeidah. The Bab al-Mandeb is a vital shipping route linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, so instability there has significance beyond Yemen’s borders. Al Jazeera’s reporting also highlighted testimony from displaced families describing abrupt departures, shelling and difficult journeys to safety.