Surge in displacement reported after renewed fighting in southwest Yemen

At least 46,000 people have been displaced since renewed clashes erupted last week between Houthi rebels and pro-government forces in southwestern Yemen, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported on Friday, 11 September 2026, according to a press release by UN News. The figure, covering the governorates of West Coast and Taiz as of Thursday, is “alarmingly rising by the hour,” the UN agency warned. Overnight, large numbers of residents were reportedly seen leaving Mokha with their possessions after Houthi fighters seized the strategic Red Sea port earlier in the week. New arrivals have been recorded in the governorates of Lahj and Aden, with reports of people also moving north toward Ibb. The escalation is placing severe pressure on host communities and humanitarian operations.

The Houthis and Yemeni Government forces, backed by a Saudi Arabia-led coalition, have been locked in a power struggle since 2014. After years of relative calm, Yemen plunged back into war in July, drawn into the regional conflict triggered in late February by the US-Israeli offensive against Iran. The clashes that erupted last week have left hundreds dead on both sides, mainly combatants, according to media reports. Pro-government forces reportedly withdrew Friday from an island base in the narrow Bab al-Mandab Strait, with militants vowing to continue targeting Saudi shipping there. The renewed hostilities are compounding an already dire humanitarian situation.

IOM said entire villages have been emptied in three districts in Taiz — Maqbanah, Jabal Habashi, and Al Ma’afer — as fighting moved closer to populated areas. The road linking Mokha to Taiz, a vital supply route, has reportedly been cut off, while host communities in the region are under increasing pressure. IOM is calling on all parties to guarantee safe and sustained humanitarian access. The agency also urged parties to ensure the safety of humanitarian workers, premises, and assets nationwide, and to restore communication and transport routes necessary for aid delivery. Emergency stocks are already depleted following recent flood relief efforts.

“Families are being forced to flee for the second or third time since the start of this conflict, with almost nothing left,” said Amy Pope, the IOM Director General. “As fighting spreads, reaching people with lifesaving assistance is becoming harder.” According to IOM, the most urgent needs are for shelter, food, water, household items, health care, and protection support. At least 14 civilians, including two children, have been killed or wounded since the beginning of the month, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported Thursday. The World Health Organization (WHO) recorded 67 deaths and 288 injuries between 6–24 August across seven governorates.

The resumption of fighting is severely straining Yemen’s fragile health system, with hospitals in Marib, Hadramaut, and Taiz facing an influx of trauma patients. According to WHO, only 60 per cent of health facilities in Yemen are fully operational, leaving emergency services simultaneously facing a sharp rise in demand and limited capacity. At Marib General Hospital, maternity and obstetrics services have been temporarily suspended to free up resources for treating the wounded, while the number of deaths has exceeded the morgue’s capacity. This reallocation of resources toward trauma care is affecting all patients, as facilities struggle with shortages of staff, beds, and medical supplies. IOM continues to appeal for protection of civilians, aid workers, and infrastructure as the crisis deepens.