IOM Reports More Than 217,000 Displaced in Yemen Amid Escalating West Coast Fighting
- 2026-10-14
- 14:45:06
ADEN – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has revealed that more than 217,000 people have been displaced across Yemen in less than two and a half months, warning that continued military escalation along the country's western coast could trigger further waves of displacement and deepen humanitarian needs.
In its latest displacement tracking report, the organization said it recorded the displacement of 36,216 families, comprising 217,303 individuals, between August 1 and October 12, 2026.
According to the report, Taiz governorate accounted for the largest share of newly displaced people, representing 55 percent of all recorded displacement cases during the reporting period.
The organization noted that ongoing hostilities have severely limited access to many displacement sites in the governorate, complicating efforts to deliver humanitarian assistance to vulnerable families.
Within Taiz, Jabal Habashi district was the hardest-hit area, recording 32,346 displaced persons, followed by Al-Ma'afer district with 31,230 people, and Al-Shamayatayn district with 24,942 displaced persons, the report said.
The report also highlighted the growing burden on host communities across the country. Lahj governorate ranked second among areas receiving displaced populations, hosting 45,390 people, while the interim capital Aden received 26,112 displaced individuals.
The IOM warned that displacement flows are likely to continue if military operations intensify, further worsening humanitarian conditions and placing additional pressure on communities already struggling with limited resources.
The organization stressed the increasing need for emergency shelter, food assistance, healthcare services, and other forms of humanitarian support to meet the needs of displaced families and host communities alike.