The recent fighting between Yemen's Houthi group and government forces has displaced more than 125,000 people in Yemen within just a few weeks, said an official with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Yemen on Sunday.
In an interview with China Media Group, Armen Yedgaryan, representative of the UNHCR in Yemen, called on the international community to provide more funds and support to address the growing humanitarian needs.
"So it's a very big number just from the beginning of this recent escalation. Most of the displaced, they are women, children, older people, quite a big number of very vulnerable, highly vulnerable people who need medical, shelter, food, water protection services. They were forced to flee in a short time of period, with little belongings or without them," said Yedgaryan.
Yedgaryan said that the conflict has forced displaced people to move to temporary shelters or displacement camps, and in many cases, to flee to other countries.
"Many Yemenis fleeing from the conflict to Djibouti through Bab al-Mandab Strait, taking a dangerous travel routes by sea. Many go to Somalia also, including the refugees," said the UNHCR official.
Yedgaryan said that the recent escalation of the situation has posed new challenges to the humanitarian relief operations of relevant agencies, destroying roads, infrastructure and communication facilities and making it difficult for humanitarian agencies to access the affected areas in a timely manner.
The UNHCR has launched emergency assistance in multiple locations and mobilized 2 million U.S. dollars for aid and the distribution of relief supplies, yet the funding gap remains substantial. Yedgaryan noted that only the realization of peace, security and stability can fundamentally reduce the risk of forced displacement for the civilian population.
Yemen's conflict erupted in late 2014 when the Houthis seized Sanaa and much of northern Yemen, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene in March 2015 in support of the internationally recognized government.
The latest fighting follows major Houthi gains along Yemen's southwestern Red Sea coast earlier this month.
Renewed fighting in Yemen displaces over 125,000 civilians: UNHCR official
