At least 100,000 people have been displaced across Yemen’s Taiz governorate following a massive Houthi offensive that captured the Red Sea coast and the port city of Mocha, according to the United Nations refugee agency. The renewed fighting, which reignites a decade-long civil war, has severely strained humanitarian operations and threatened a 2022 UN-brokered truce as government forces launch counter-offensives to retake strategic waterways.
Displacement Crisis Surges in Southwestern Yemen
Renewed military clashes between internationally recognized government forces and the Iran-backed Houthi movement have driven tens of thousands of civilians from their homes with little warning. Ali al-Shumairi, director-general of the Executive Unit for the Management of IDP Camps in Taiz governorate, told Al Jazeera that 65,845 people were displaced between August 10 and September 15 alone. Approximately 95 percent of those individuals fled from five heavily contested districts: Jabal Habashi, al-Maafer, Maqbana, al-Wazi’iyah, and Mawza.
The sudden nature of the Houthi assault forced many residents to leave behind essential belongings and navigate rugged terrain on foot. Hajja Fatima Mohammed Saleh, a 70-year-old displaced woman from Maqbanah district, reported leaving her wheelchair behind because it could not handle the rough ground. “The attack was massive, we had never seen anything like it before,” Saleh told Al Jazeera, describing how she had to crawl using both hands through rain and floods before finding transport.
Strained Camps and Dire Humanitarian Conditions
Improvised and temporary camps across Taiz governorate are struggling to absorb the influx of new arrivals. Osama al-Wafi, supervisor of the Mushrifa camp in Wadi Bikhawlan and a representative of the government’s Executive Unit in Jabal Habashi, characterized the situation as dire and tragic. Al-Wafi told Al Jazeera that more than 1,500 families have arrived at the camp over a six-day period, with most forced to live in the open due to a severe shortage of shelter and basic supplies.
Did you know? The al-Munij camp, located about 40 kilometers southwest of Taiz City, has expanded over a two-square-kilometre area since previous bouts of conflict in 2020. Current residents report widespread shortages of drinking water and sanitation facilities.
Displaced residents like 73-year-old Hajj Saif Qaed Thabet have spent weeks living in exposed spaces with no doors after arriving at al-Munij on September 10. Thabet fled his farm and livestock in al-Kadaha as artillery shells fell nearby. Similarly, Malouk Ahmed Ali, 55, described escaping gunfire and drones on foot with 14 family members before being transferred to a small tent that currently serves as temporary housing for her entire extended family.
Geopolitical Stakes Along the Red Sea Coast
The capture of Mocha and the surrounding Red Sea coast places the Bab al-Mandeb Strait at the center of escalating military friction. The strategic waterway connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the wider Indian Ocean, serving as a vital lane for global trade. The escalation follows a Houthi maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia declared in July, which prompted military campaigns by government forces aiming to retake lost positions in the southwestern Taiz province.
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the latest displacement wave in Taiz?
The displacement was triggered by a major Houthi offensive that captured the Red Sea coast, Mocha, and surrounding border areas, leading to intensive counter-attacks by government forces.
How many people have been displaced by the recent fighting?
According to the United Nations refugee agency, at least 100,000 people have fled their homes since the renewed offensive began.
Which areas in Yemen have seen the heaviest fighting?
Local officials report that the heaviest clashes and subsequent displacements are concentrated in five Taiz districts: Jabal Habashi, al-Maafer, Maqbana, al-Wazi’iyah, and Mawza.
What are conditions like in the displacement camps?
Camps like al-Munij and Mushrifa face severe overcrowding, with many families living in the open air and lacking adequate shelter, drinking water, and toilets.
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