Yemen displacement surges as more than 85,000 people flee renewed fighting

Monday 14 September 2026 - 13:47

By: Azzat Manal

Yemen displacement surges as more than 85,000 people flee renewed fighting

More than 85,000 people have been displaced in Yemen since the beginning of September as fighting intensifies between Houthi rebels and government forces, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). More than 2,000 Yemenis have also crossed the sea to Djibouti, seeking safety from the escalating violence.

The IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix recorded 85,818 displaced people across Yemen, including 82,164 who were forced to leave their homes since the start of September. Taiz has experienced the largest wave of displacement, with around 9,280 households, representing nearly 56,000 people, fleeing several districts including Jabal Habashy, Al Ma’afer, Maqbanah, Mawza and Al Wazi’iyah.

Lahj has recorded the second-largest number of displaced residents, with approximately 3,225 households, or more than 19,000 people, mainly from the Al-Mudharibah district. In Hodeidah, around 1,374 households, representing more than 8,000 people, have been displaced, particularly from the Hays area.

Aden has also received displaced families, with around 424 households, or more than 2,500 people, forced to leave their homes amid deteriorating security conditions.

The growing violence has also pushed thousands of Yemenis to seek refuge outside the country. More than 2,000 people have reached northern Djibouti by sea, arriving at several locations near the coastal town of Obock. Djiboutian authorities have deployed naval, military, police and health services to assist the new arrivals, working alongside the IOM and other United Nations partners.

Many of those arriving in Djibouti are women and young children. They have been transferred to the Markazi site in Obock, where humanitarian teams are providing essential assistance, including drinking water, energy biscuits and hot meals.

The latest displacement comes after more than a decade of conflict in Yemen, one of the world’s most protracted humanitarian crises. Many families have already been displaced multiple times, leaving them with limited financial resources and few safe places to relocate.

The escalation is also making humanitarian operations increasingly difficult. Fighting has disrupted roads, while communication problems are complicating efforts to assess needs and deliver assistance to affected communities. Humanitarian organizations face additional challenges in reaching people trapped in areas where hostilities remain active.

The IOM has warned that the number of displaced people could rise further if the fighting continues to intensify. The organization is urging all parties to ensure safe and unrestricted humanitarian access and to protect civilians, aid workers, vehicles, supplies and infrastructure involved in relief operations.

Djibouti is also facing growing pressure as it receives people fleeing the conflict across the Red Sea. The arrival of vulnerable families is increasing demand for shelter, food, healthcare and other essential services in communities such as Obock, which have limited resources of their own.

The situation remains highly volatile, with further population movements possible in the coming days. Humanitarian agencies continue to monitor displacement patterns and developments on the ground while calling for greater international support for both displaced Yemenis and the communities receiving them.