The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported this Wednesday that the number of people displaced by the conflict in Yemen has surpassed the threshold of 340,000, which is about 40,000 more than less than two weeks ago, in a context of growing obstacles to delivering humanitarian aid.
The provinces most affected by internal displacement are, by far, Taiz, which concentrates close to 225,000 residents forced to leave their homes—equivalent to 66% of its population—Lahj, with a little over 72,000 displaced people, and Hodeida, from where 40,782 residents have been forced to flee.
The UN agency emphasizes that these are communities subject to “years of conflict,” which generates “additional pressure” on a population that already had enormous difficulties covering its most basic needs.
“Imagine having to leave everything behind, not knowing where your family will sleep that night or how you’ll get food and drinking water for your children. This is the reality for hundreds of thousands of people in Yemen,” said Abdusattor Esoev, head of the IOM mission in Yemen. The official denounced that the “ongoing hostilities” between the Houthi rebels and the internationally recognized Yemeni Government—militarily supported by Saudi Arabia—are blocking transportation routes, which complicates the population’s access to the assistance it needs to survive.
The IOM representative warned that “each day that aid is delayed puts more families at risk,” and therefore has requested urgent support “before an already desperate situation gets even worse.” “People need security, access to essential services, and the means to rebuild their lives. Without more support, the gap between what families need and what we can offer them will only increase,” he stressed.
At the beginning of November, the IOM had already warned that it requires 45 million dollars for the next six months in order to maintain its operations in the country, including the distribution of emergency aid, shelter, essential items, drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene products.
Since August 1, and in coordination with local authorities and various NGOs, the organization has provided support to more than 21,000 families, offered protection to more than 8,200 people in vulnerable situations, and carried out more than 70,500 medical care consultations.