Renewed fighting in Yemen has forced at least 125,000 people to flee their homes since the beginning of September 2026, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The humanitarian crisis has escalated as clashes intensified along the Red Sea coastal plains and the rugged hills approaching the mountaintop city of Taiz.
Many displaced families are seeking refuge in safer districts such as Al-Shimayateen, where camps and makeshift accommodations are becoming increasingly overcrowded. Asma Taleb, a woman in her 50s who escaped with her two sons and five grandchildren from the Maqbahah district in the Taiz region, described the hardships faced upon arrival. “We fled a large, comfortable home, and here we are struggling to find a plastic sheet and wooden poles,” she said, highlighting the severe shortages of shelter and basic supplies.
Taleb recounted that the fighting in her village was fierce, resulting in civilian casualties that compelled many to leave everything behind, including livestock and personal belongings. Upon arriving at the displacement camps, she found multiple families sharing tents due to the influx of newly displaced people. Local humanitarian groups have provided some assistance, including canned food and hygiene kits, but demand continues to outstrip resources.
Similar stories emerged from other displaced residents in the Taiz area. Hatem Qasem, a farmer from Al-Wazeyah district west of Taiz city, explained that his community, primarily reliant on farming and livestock, was forced to abandon their livelihoods amid escalating hostilities. “We sold our livestock at low prices just to cover the cost of fleeing,” he said. Qasem and his family, along with others, left their village by car and reached Al-Shimayateen, considered a safer area, though shelter remains scarce and economic opportunities limited.
Qasem noted that returning home is presently impossible given the ongoing conflict, but sustaining life in displacement poses its own challenges. Several displaced families are sharing limited rental accommodations, and lack of work has increased dependency on humanitarian aid.
The International Organization for Migration reported that over 2,000 Yemenis fleeing the conflict have made their way to Djibouti’s northern shores, landing near Obock. Meanwhile, humanitarian organizations warn that the situation may worsen without a cessation of hostilities.
Child casualties illustrate the conflict’s human toll—Save the Children documented that at least 19 children were killed and 49 injured between August 1 and September 9, bringing the total civilian death toll amid recent violence to 117, with 206 injured. The week of September 3-9 saw the highest weekly child casualty count in the past year.
In 2026, an estimated 22.3 million people—more than half of Yemen’s population—require humanitarian assistance amid ongoing conflict, economic collapse, and food insecurity. Displaced communities are calling for renewed peace efforts and expanded aid to meet urgent needs as hostilities continue unabated around Taiz and other areas.