International Organization for Migration: Over 268,000 People Displaced in Yemen Since Last September
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced that the number of displaced people in Yemen from the beginning of September until October 23 has exceeded 268,000, coinciding with the ongoing wave of internal displacement.
The organization noted, in a statement published today, Sunday, that families are increasingly heading towards safer areas in the south. In Aden, the number of arriving displaced persons has more than doubled since October 7, reaching over 42,000 people, while Lahj is currently hosting about 67,000 displaced persons. Displaced families are currently living in 62 districts across ten governorates, extending as far east as Al Mahrah.
It added that the escalating conflict in western Yemen is forcing the population to leave the country, with thousands fleeing by sea to Djibouti. It noted that new data from the IOM shows the extent of the crisis's impact reaches beyond Yemen's borders.
It continued: As of October 17, 3,836 Yemenis had arrived in Djibouti, half of whom were children, including 282 children under the age of five. Most reported fleeing due to deteriorating security conditions, with reports of several boats beaching before reaching their final destination due to running out of fuel. The IOM also recorded 1,327 migrants crossing by sea from Yemen to Djibouti while returning to their countries of residence.
"After the displacement of 44,736 families, many are facing difficulties in accessing clean water, healthcare, and basic services, amidst severe fuel shortages and soaring prices for basic food items and medicines. Families are resorting to staying in overcrowded public buildings or sleeping in the open, often without adequate sanitation facilities. Women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities face increasing protection risks. Meanwhile, restrictions on humanitarian access in Taiz continue to slow down the delivery of aid," it said.
The IOM indicated a critical funding gap of 30 million US dollars for the next six months to provide shelter, emergency cash assistance, protection, healthcare, clean water, and sanitation services, as well as displacement tracking and monitoring. The response is being implemented through the Yemen Crisis Response Plan 2026, which supports displaced families and host communities in Yemen, and the Regional Migrant Response Plan for the Horn of Africa and Yemen, which supports migrants moving from the Horn of Africa and through Yemen.
The UN organization called on donors to urgently increase their funding to keep pace with rapidly growing needs, and also calls on all parties to protect civilians and humanitarian workers, and to ensure safe and unimpeded access to people in need.
Source: International Organization for Migration
