Aden:Sanaa More than 268,000 people have been displaced inside Yemen since July due to escalating conflict between government forces and the Houthi group, with thousands fleeing by sea to Djibouti, as reported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
According to Anadolu Agency – English, the UN agency stated that the displacement figure was recorded as of October 23, with almost all those affected displaced since the beginning of September. The conflict, particularly intense in western Yemen, has driven people beyond the country's borders. By October 17, at least 3,836 Yemenis had arrived in Djibouti, half of them children, including 282 under five.
The IOM highlighted that many fleeing Yemen reported worsening insecurity, with several boats arriving short of their destination due to fuel shortages. In addition, 1,327 migrants were recorded crossing from Yemen to Djibouti, returning to their countries of residence. Within Yemen, families are seeking safety farther south, with the number of displaced people in Aden more than doubling since October 7 to over 42,000, while Lahj hosts around 67,000.
Displaced families have found shelter in 62 districts across 10 governorates, stretching as far east as Al Maharah. IOM's chief of mission in Yemen, Abdusattor Esoev, emphasized the urgent need for help, stating, "The scale and speed of this displacement is leaving families in desperate need of help, and our response is struggling to keep pace." He stressed the importance of increased funding to prevent families from going without life-saving assistance.
Access to clean water, healthcare, and basic services remains difficult due to severe fuel shortages and rising prices of food and medicine. Overcrowded shelters, inadequate sanitation, and heightened protection risks for vulnerable groups compound the challenges. Humanitarian access restrictions in Taiz continue to impede aid delivery. Esoev urged for support to reach both displaced families and the communities hosting them to prevent further risks to lives.
The IOM called on donors to increase support and on all parties to protect civilians and humanitarian workers, ensuring safe, unimpeded access to those in need. Yemen has been in conflict since the Houthis seized Sanaa and other provinces in 2014, leading to a Saudi-led coalition intervention in 2015. The Houthis control much of northern and western Yemen, while government forces and allies hold Aden and large parts of the south and east.