Mohammad Ayash and his three children sought refuge in a temporary camp in the city of Aden, Yemen, after an airstrike killed his wife and forced him to leave their home in the historic city of Mokha. This incident is just one of the consequences of the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, triggered by the intensification of Houthi attacks on Saudi government forces.
Increase in Displacement in Yemen
Amid rapid and ongoing Houthi attacks, fear and panic have spread among Yemenis. This group, which relies on Iranian support, has managed to capture new areas of the country and increase control over the Bab al-Mandab Strait, one of the most important shipping routes for goods and oil in the world.
Read more: Bangladesh Foreign Minister Emphasizes Positive Relations with India Ahead of Prime Minister's Visit
According to Mohammad Ayash, they currently do not even have a grain of flour and were forced to leave their home empty-handed. The UN refugee agency reported that more than 100,000 people have been displaced due to the escalation of conflicts in Yemen, with thousands more fleeing towards Djibouti.
Humanitarian Challenges and New Crises
The Houthis, known as mountain fighters, have transformed into a military force with tens of thousands of members. Recent conflicts have expanded their control from northern and densely populated areas of Yemen to western cities and islands. They have also opened a new front in the Iran conflict, putting additional pressure on global energy markets, especially after the temporary closure of Saudi Arabia's east-west pipelines, which served as an alternative to transport through the Strait of Hormuz.
In the Aden camp, families sit beside tents, trying to build makeshift shelters. One displaced person named Tawfiq al-Kharji displayed a shrapnel wound and said he fled with only the clothes on his back. As he recalled the peaceful days of his life, he said, "We suddenly fled from our peaceful life to war. Some died, and some survived."
The UNHCR also stated that access to humanitarian aid remains a major challenge. Security instability, damaged roads, communication disruptions, and movement restrictions have impacted operations.
Khadija Qadaf and her children had to walk for three days to reach Aden, and she noted that they couldn't even bring their children's clothes with them. Yemenis are well acquainted with suffering, as this country, the poorest Arab nation, has been embroiled in war since the Houthis seized the capital in 2014.
The Yemeni civil war, which began with Saudi military intervention in 2015, has led to one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world. Despite a UN-mediated ceasefire agreement in 2022, efforts to turn it into a sustainable political agreement have faced serious obstacles.
A new camp is also being set up in Taiz province, located northwest of Aden, to accommodate displaced persons. Women and children are carrying water and collecting clothes around the tents. One displaced woman named Taghreed Salem is explaining their critical situation, saying, "We fled from the war, from bullets, and from missiles. We have come as newcomers, we need water and everything."
Read more: Houthis in Yemen Capture Two Strategic Islands in the Red Sea · Egypt's Efforts to Mediate Between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Ansar Allah
