More than 200,000 people have been forced to flee their homes since fighting in Yemen escalated in recent weeks, according to data published by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The IOM described the situation as alarming in a statement on Wednesday, noting that displacement figures had surged from 76,000 in mid-September to more than 200,000.
"People are fleeing to save their lives but finding nowhere safe," IOM Director General Amy Pope said, calling for increased funding as demand for food and shelter soars.
Yemen is experiencing its worst escalation of fighting since a UN-brokered ceasefire largely ended large-scale cross-border attacks in 2022.
The Iran-backed Houthis, who already control much of northern Yemen including the capital Sanaa, seized full control of the country's Red Sea coastline last month from forces loyal to the Saudi-backed, internationally recognized government based in the southern port of Aden.
On Sunday, Rashad al-Alimi, president of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, announced a military campaign to retake all remaining Houthi-held territory, including Sanaa, which the armed group has held since 2014.
Displacement has been recorded across Yemen, with the southwestern province of Taiz the hardest hit.
The IOM said more than 3,700 people had also crossed the sea to Djibouti.
On Friday, the UN World Food Programme warned that three in four families in some parts of Yemen are suffering hunger because of the "utterly devastating" impact of the renewed conflict.
