Yemeni families are collectively fleeing their areas due to the intensification of clashes and terrifying bombings in refugee camps. With the renewed escalation of the civil war in Yemen, the humanitarian situation in the country has become critically dire.
Increase in Displacement in Yemen
Rawia Hassan and her family, along with their seven children, were forced to leave their home after terrifying bombings around their camp in Yemen, leaving with nothing but the clothes on their backs. This family, currently taking refuge in Al-Bayrin camp, says: "We are in fear, under rockets and missiles."
Read more: Oman and Botswana emphasize strengthening bilateral cooperation
Clashes between the Iran-backed Houthis and the Saudi-supported government forces, which had briefly stopped in 2022, have intensified again. In recent weeks, the Houthis have managed to seize the port city of Mocha and parts of the Red Sea coast, prompting a large wave of people to flee towards government-controlled areas and also to Djibouti.
Difficult Conditions for Displaced People
The Hassan family lives in a remote area of Taiz province and was forced to leave their village of Al-Tawir due to clashes eight years ago. Now, even their previous shelter has been destroyed, and they must start over. She says: "We fled naked and didn’t even know where our children were. We had nothing with us, no clothing, no mattress, no food, and no water."
Her older sister, Rawda, who was walking with her children on a long path, was reunited with them the next day at Al-Bayrin camp. This family is now completely dependent on humanitarian aid, and Rawda, wearing an orange hat, says they don’t know where to go.
While in the camps, women and children are struggling to meet their basic needs, the situation is critically dire. Om Mohammed, another displaced person, says her family fled from Mocha and the only supplies they received in the camp were thin mattresses and old blankets.
Meanwhile, the fighting in Yemen continues to escalate, with the Houthis using drones and ballistic missiles, while Saudi Arabia continues to bomb areas controlled by the Houthis. There are no signs of a reduction in violence in the near future.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has reported that in the past two weeks, at least 112,000 people have been displaced in Yemen, and nearly 3,000 others have fled to Djibouti, crossing in overcrowded boats.
Read more: U.S. Democrats seek to prevent Trump's nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia · Clashes between Yemeni forces and Houthis near the Saudi border
