At least 46,000 people in Yemen have fled their homes since new clashes erupted last week, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The renewed fighting between the Houthis and the internationally recognised government has been described as the fiercest in years.
The Houthis’ capture of Mocha and the remaining Red Sea coast outside their control on Friday triggered panic in government-held areas and further mass displacement. More than 900 people have been killed or injured in less than a week, while at least 5,000 families have fled, according to the reported figures.
Families arrive with little shelter or food
In Taiz, displaced families have crowded into camps in al-Maafer district after fleeing areas including al-Kadaha and Jabal Habashi. Camp officials said existing sites lack the capacity to absorb thousands of additional families, leaving some people in narrow tents or beside them.
Aman Murshed, a mother of five, fled after fighting reached the camp where she had lived for more than five years. She walked more than two kilometres before finding transport and reached al-Malika camp with only a few blankets and mattresses. Her family is now trying to build shelter from wooden poles and a tarpaulin donated by neighbours.
Other displaced people are staying with relatives or friends, while some are sleeping under trees to escape the midday heat. Ahmed Abduljaleel said women and children in his camp were sleeping under plastic sheets, while men slept outdoors, and that aid groups had not yet reached them.
Aid groups face shortages as needs grow
Abdulnasser al-Sourouri of the Peace and Social Security Organisation said displaced families needed food, shelter, clean water and hygiene kits, but his organisation lacked funds to assist everyone. The group had provided shelter to some families, while broader coordination with aid agencies was under way.
The latest displacement has also spread from fighting in al-Jawf, Marib and al-Bayda governorates. Muneer, who fled Jabal Habashi, said he was shot in the left leg while escaping and was later discharged from hospital using a cane.
A fragile pause preceded the escalation
A UN-brokered truce in April 2022 temporarily halted major fighting between government-aligned forces and the Houthis, who seized Sanaa in September 2014. Periodic clashes continued during the quieter period, alongside regional and maritime conflicts. Read the context: Houthi forces say they have seized Mocha as Yemen fighting widens.
The Houthis’ attacks on ships in the Red Sea during the war on Gaza prompted US and UK air strikes on their positions. In July 2026, the group threatened attacks on Saudi-linked vessels during the war on Iran, and several ships and Saudi oil facilities were targeted, according to the account. Related coverage: Government warplanes strike Houthi positions in Yemen fighting.
What happens next
Coordination with aid groups is under way for an urgent response, but officials and local aid workers say current humanitarian interventions remain weak and are calling for international organisations and the UN to intervene.
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