More than 184,000 displaced as fighting intensifies in Yemen

Intense fighting in Yemen has forced more than 184,000 people from their homes since the start of August, most of them since early September, according to a press release by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) issued on 5 October 2026. In the week to 3 October alone, the International Organisation for Migration recorded nearly 21,800 people who had been displaced at least once, a 26 per cent increase from the previous week. A further 6,474 people were displaced on 4 October, and all are in need of food, shelter, and other basic humanitarian aid. The surge in displacement reflects a rapidly deteriorating security environment. IOM has appealed to the international community to help secure humanitarian access.

The crisis unfolds amid an escalation of hostilities across Yemen, where repeated waves of conflict continue to uproot civilians. IOM conducted an assessment at three displacement sites in Ma’rib last week to gauge the needs of affected families. The findings highlighted that lack of safe shelter was the most critical concern. Some families are sleeping in the open, exposing them to violence and to the effects of the conflict, including airstrikes. Women and girls raised the shortage of appropriate latrines as a pressing issue.

Approximately 45 per cent of households assessed had been displaced before and had lost assets and livelihoods, leaving them less able to cope and at risk of turning to harmful strategies such as child labor, IOM warned. The agency is working with local authorities and partners to provide emergency shelter, household items, cash, clean water, sanitation, and protection services. With the situation volatile, further displacement is possible in the coming days. The UN World Health Organization (WHO) reported more than 5,100 casualties since 6 August, including 959 deaths, according to its latest situation report. Cholera cases have tripled in as many weeks and measles is spreading, while teams face challenges reaching the injured during the so-called “golden hour,” the critical period after a traumatic injury when treatment matters most.

Meanwhile, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) on Monday welcomed the release of one of its staff members who had been arbitrarily detained in Yemen, saying it was relieved he had been reunited with his family. WFP said it stood in solidarity with the 72 UN personnel and five former UN personnel who remain detained, and joined the UN Secretary-General in calling for the release of all detained UN staff and other humanitarian workers. The agency said it supported constructive dialogue with the Houthi de facto authorities to build on the release and secure further releases.

Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary General, Farhan Haq, welcomed the staffer’s release and said: “The Secretary-General has called for the release of all detained UN personnel and other humanitarian personnel in Yemen.” He added that the UN will continue to “pursue every possible avenue to secure their immediate and safe release, including through engagements with the Houthi de facto authorities.”

As the conflict deepens, IOM Director General Amy Pope warned that “as the conflict intensifies, more and more people are thrown into an appalling cycle of displacement, living in fear of their lives and with their futures uncertain.” Humanitarian partners continue to deliver aid under difficult conditions, while health teams work to contain disease outbreaks and treat the injured. The release of the WFP staff member offers a measure of relief, though dozens of UN personnel remain in detention. Needs across displacement sites in Ma’rib and beyond continue to grow. UN agencies have reiterated their commitment to engagement with the Houthi de facto authorities to secure additional releases and sustain humanitarian operations.