Yemen Conflict Displaces 130,000 Since September
UNHCR reports that over 130,000 people have fled since September, with Taiz accounting for most of the new displacements.
Key points
- Over 130,000 people have fled since September, with Taiz accounting for more than 60 percent of displacement.
- More than 3,000 refugees have reached Djibouti, surpassing the total number of arrivals in recent years.
- UNHCR’s Yemen mission was only 18 percent funded in 2026, with needs estimated at 194 million.
The UN refugee agency warned on Tuesday that Yemen’s crisis is deepening. Escalating conflict has forced over 130,000 people to flee since September.
According to UNHCR, more than 5.2 million people are already internally displaced. The agency stated that the current fighting is worsening an existing emergency.
Taiz drives majority of new displacement
Taiz, in southwestern Yemen, represents more than 60 percent of recent displacement. Many families cannot move to safer areas due to active fighting.
Roadblocks and a lack of fuel also prevent movement. The UN noted that civilians face widespread suffering as the conflict expands across multiple fronts.
Refugee flows reach East Africa shores
More Yemenis are fleeing across the Gulf of Aden to East Africa. Over 3,000 refugees have arrived in Djibouti, exceeding previous annual totals.
Hundreds more have reached Somaliland and Puntland. Projections suggest that more than 10,000 arrivals could occur in October, straining local resources.
Funding gap hampers humanitarian response
UNHCR stated its Yemen mission was only 18 percent funded in 2026. Needs have grown by approximately 25 million, reaching an estimated 194 million.
The Djibouti mission is similarly underfunded at 15 percent. Agencies like IOM are requesting additional support to address the growing crisis.
