Politics
The United Nations has revealed that nearly 1,790 Yemeni families were forced to flee their homes within just two days following an escalation in fighting in Taiz province in southwestern Yemen.
The United Nations has revealed that nearly 1,790 Yemeni families were forced to flee their homes within just two days following an escalation in fighting in Taiz province in southwestern Yemen. The situation developed after increased military tensions by the Houthi group and its continued shelling of populated areas and camps for displaced people.
According to a report issued by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), clashes and artillery shelling resumed along front lines in Taiz’s Maqbanah and Jabal Habashi districts on the morning of September 3, 2026. The renewed fighting triggered large-scale displacement from sites hosting internally displaced people and nearby villages.
The report said that approximately 1,790 families have been displaced since September 3, while the displacement continues. Most displaced families are moving from one location to another within Maqbanah and Jabal Habashi, while some families are heading toward the districts of Al-Ma’afer, Al-Shamayatain, Mawza and Dhubab.
According to the UN report, some camps and sites hosting displaced people have been completely evacuated, including the Al-Hajab and Al-Rajihi sites. As a result, large numbers of people have once again been forced to flee. The report said continued shelling has made it difficult for families to move to relatively safer areas, while some families remain trapped in front-line areas. Meanwhile, the Yemeni government on Saturday appealed to international and regional organizations for urgent assistance amid a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation caused by renewed clashes and military escalation by the Houthis in Taiz and Al Hudaydah provinces.
In a statement issued by Yemen’s Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, the government said Houthi militia operations had targeted residential areas and shelters for displaced people. The affected areas include Al Mokha, Maqbanah, Jabal Habashi, Mawza, Al Ma’afer, Al Wazi’iyah and Dhubab districts in Taiz province, as well as Al Khawkhah and Hays districts in Al Hudaydah province. The attacks have forced large numbers of civilians to flee their homes and resulted in widespread forced displacement. The statement said the continued escalation in attacks has created an urgent need for comprehensive humanitarian assistance to ease the suffering of affected people. Immediate needs include emergency shelters for displaced families, food packages, medicines, and the rapid establishment of field hospitals to treat the wounded.
In addition, displaced people’s camps urgently need clean drinking water and sanitation facilities to prevent the spread of disease. Yemen’s Ministry of Planning called on all international and UN agencies, humanitarian partners and donors to immediately launch relief operations and effectively coordinate their efforts with the Yemeni government and local authorities. The ministry also stressed the urgent need to ensure safe and unconditional access for relief supplies, medical materials and medical personnel to the affected areas.
