YEMEN — Heavy fighting has erupted again in Yemen, forcing at least 46,000 people to flee their homes since last week, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), as the number of people displaced by the renewed violence continues to rise.
The fighting has intensified particularly along Yemen’s western coast, including parts of Taiz and Al Hudaydah, where forces aligned with Yemen’s government and Houthi fighters are engaged in clashes on several fronts.
The IOM previously reported that more than 18,500 people were displaced within a 72-hour period, highlighting the speed at which the humanitarian situation is deteriorating.
The escalation has raised further concerns after Houthi forces reportedly captured the port city of Mocha, located near the strategically important Bab al-Mandab Strait. Reports also indicate that Houthi forces have reached Mayun, also known as Perim Island, which lies within the Bab al-Mandab waterway.
Bab al-Mandab is a major maritime corridor connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and is critical to international trade. Any significant disruption in the area could affect commercial shipping, fuel supplies and global energy prices.
Saudi Arabia has also carried out airstrikes against positions controlled by the Houthis. Reports say the Mocha airport was targeted following the reported Houthi takeover of the city. The Houthis, meanwhile, have continued launching attacks against targets inside Saudi Arabia.
United Nations agencies have warned that the renewed fighting could further worsen Yemen’s already severe humanitarian crisis. Many displaced families are arriving in areas where adequate shelter, food and security are unavailable.
The IOM said many of those currently being displaced had already been forced to leave their homes several times because of the conflict, leaving vulnerable communities with increasingly limited options for safety.
The latest escalation also threatens the fragile ceasefire and relative calm that had reduced the intensity of Yemen’s conflict in recent years. A return to large-scale fighting could deepen the country’s humanitarian crisis and create additional risks for civilians.
The renewed violence also has wider regional implications because of Yemen’s location along the Bab al-Mandab Strait, one of the world’s most important maritime routes. Continued fighting near the waterway could increase concerns over the safety of commercial vessels and international shipping.
With thousands of people already displaced in a matter of days, humanitarian organizations are warning that the situation could deteriorate further if the fighting continues and additional areas become affected.
