Key facts
- At least 46,000 people displaced by renewed fighting in Yemen since last week.
- The UN's International Organisation for Migration (IOM) stated the number of displaced is rising by the hour.
- Many families have been forced to flee their homes for a second or third time.
- The UN special envoy warned Yemen is closer to renewed all-out war than since a 2022 truce.
- Fighting has intensified along Yemen's western coast and in parts of Taiz and Al-Hodeidah.
- The UN envoy called on parties to de-escalate and work towards a robust ceasefire.
Renewed fighting across Yemen has displaced at least 46,000 people since last week, with the number increasing hourly, according to the UN's International Organisation for Migration (IOM). IOM Director General Amy Pope stated that many families have been forced to flee their homes for a second or third time, often with very few possessions.
Fighting has intensified along Yemen's western coast and in parts of Taiz and Al-Hodeidah governorates. According to the IOM's Displacement Tracking Matrix, approximately 18,500 people were displaced in these areas between September 3 and September 7. Civilians have reportedly been killed and injured as clashes intensify. The IOM noted that reaching displaced populations with life-saving assistance is becoming more difficult due to the spreading conflict and insecurity along access routes.
The UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, warned that the country is now closer to a renewed all-out war than at any point since a truce was struck in 2022. He reported that military activity has intensified across Yemen’s front lines, causing casualties. Fighters from the Iran-aligned Houthi group have clashed with government forces in various regions, including Marib, Hadramout, and al-Makha. The internationally recognized government reported repelling a Houthi attack on Taiz and conducting artillery and drone strikes against Houthi forces. Grundberg urged all parties to de-escalate immediately and work towards a robust ceasefire. He also highlighted that renewed Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea risk drawing Yemen into the wider regional confrontation between the US and Iran.