Nearly 50,000 civilians have fled their homes in western Yemen following a swift offensive by Iran-backed Houthi forces along the Red Sea coast.
According to the United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM), over 46,000 people were displaced across the Taiz and Hodeidah governorates in a single week with entire villages emptying as families scrambled to escape approaching frontlines.
Strategic towns fall to rebel forces
The rapid territorial push marks the most serious escalation in Yemen since a 2022 truce ended.
Houthi fighters seized a string of coastal towns previously held by forces aligned with the Saudi-backed Yemeni government including the strategic port city of Mokha.
Taking these positions brings the group closer to full control over vital shipping routes surrounding the Bab al-Mandab Strait raising global trade concerns.
Humanitarian conditions deteriorate rapidly
Civilians caught in the crossfire face dire conditions. Local aid workers report that families escaped with almost no belongings after heavy shelling struck residential areas.
Many displaced people are now stranded in makeshift camps near Khokha with dwindling food and water supplies.
UN officials warned that Yemen is entering a dangerous phase of war, while humanitarian agencies struggle to deliver aid amid budget shortfalls and active fighting.
