Nearly 130,000 flee homes in Yemen as conflict intensifies

Nearly 130,000 people have been displaced across seven governorates in Yemen amid escalating fighting, while more than 3,100 people have crossed the Red Sea to Djibouti, according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

The humanitarian situation in Yemen is deteriorating as fighting intensifies across several fronts. IOM data recorded 129,438 displaced people by September 20, with Taiz accounting for the largest share at 73,494 people. Lahj followed with 33,828 displaced people, while Aden had 8,946.

The increase has been rapid. IOM had recorded 118,086 displaced people on September 18, meaning the number rose by more than 11,000 in just three days.

Many of those affected have already been displaced multiple times as fighting, economic hardship and other emergencies continue to affect communities.

Where are people fleeing from?

Taiz has become the main displacement hub, hosting more than 73,000 displaced people. Lahj is the second-largest host governorate, followed by Aden and Al Hodeidah.

The latest displacement is linked to an escalation along Yemen's western coast that began in June. IOM's tracking shows the cumulative number of people displaced since the escalation began has now crossed 129,000.

What is happening on the battlefield?

The Houthi movement said 28 airstrikes hit Taiz, Marib and Al-Jawf over a 24-hour period. Its military spokesperson Yahya Sarea attributed the strikes to Saudi aircraft and said the cumulative number of airstrikes since the latest escalation began had reached 760. Saudi Arabia had not immediately commented on the figures.

Houthi-run media also reported an airstrike on a telecommunications tower in Al-Jawf, while areas of Saada near the Saudi border came under artillery fire.

Fighting has also continued between Houthi forces and troops aligned with Yemen's internationally recognised government. Government forces have reported retaking positions in western Taiz, although wider front lines have remained largely unchanged amid continued clashes.

Yemen's wider conflict

Yemen has been embroiled in conflict since the Houthis seized Sanaa and other areas in 2014. Saudi Arabia intervened militarily the following year in support of the internationally recognised government.

A ceasefire in 2022 reduced some of the fighting, but the latest escalation has reopened several fronts. Reuters reported that Houthi forces have recently advanced towards strategically important highland areas and that Saudi Arabia has responded with airstrikes.

The renewed fighting is also taking place alongside wider regional tensions involving Saudi Arabia, Iran and the Red Sea.

More than 3,100 cross the Red Sea

The latest crisis is also driving people to leave Yemen by sea. As of Sunday evening, 3,106 people had crossed the Red Sea from Yemen to Djibouti, according to the UN migration agency.

The movement adds another dimension to Yemen's humanitarian emergency, as people fleeing conflict face risks during dangerous sea crossings as well as uncertainty after reaching neighbouring countries.

Why the latest displacement figure matters

The speed of the increase is significant. IOM's figures show that displacement has risen from 118,086 on September 18 to 129,438 by September 20.

The concentration of displaced people in Taiz and neighbouring areas is also putting additional pressure on communities that are already dealing with years of conflict and economic disruption.

The humanitarian situation is developing alongside a broader regional security crisis. Reuters reported that recent Houthi advances and Saudi airstrikes have increased concerns around the Bab el-Mandeb and Red Sea, important routes for international shipping.

The immediate concern is the continued movement of civilians away from active front lines. If fighting expands across additional areas, displacement could increase further and place greater pressure on local communities and humanitarian organisations.

The conflict is also increasingly connected to wider regional tensions. The G7 foreign ministers recently called on Iran to stop supporting the Houthis and urged the group to halt military operations and return to the political process.

For Yemen's civilians, however, the immediate impact is measured in people forced from their homes. The latest IOM figures show that the humanitarian consequences of the renewed escalation are already substantial.