Escalating conflict in Yemen is forcing tens of thousands of families from their homes, creating urgent new humanitarian needs across a country already experiencing a prolonged crisis.
Armed clashes have driven displacement across Yemen, with over 146,000 people being forced to flee since the beginning of August in a desperate search for safety.
Many are arriving at displacement camps with little more than what they can carry, and require immediate humanitarian assistance.
Thousands of families urgently need food, shelter and clean water
The southwestern city of Taiz has experienced the largest recorded displacement so far, with more than 80,000 new arrivals since 1 September. Significant displacement has also been recorded in Lahj, Hodeidah, Aden and Abyan.
For families forced to flee suddenly, finding somewhere safe to sleep is only the beginning.
Food, safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene facilities and healthcare are all urgently required.
Newly established displacement sites also need emergency latrines, water supplies and waste management services.
This places additional pressure on host communities, many of which were already struggling with poverty, hunger and limited essential services.
Khanzad Shah, Islamic Relief’s water, sanitation and hygiene coordinator in Yemen, said:
“The number of people fleeing is increasing every day and they face appalling conditions. They don’t have water or food to survive, or cash to buy what they need. In one of the school shelters that we visited, children were crying from hunger. People are sleeping on the floor of overcrowded classrooms. They are drinking contaminated dirty water, and they don’t have decent sanitation facilities.
“These conditions are ripe for an outbreak of deadly water-borne diseases such as cholera.
“The health system in Yemen has collapsed from years of conflict and funding cuts, making it much harder to control and outbreak and save lives. Essential services have been starved of funds over the last few years and in Taiz alone, around 59% of health facilities are not even functioning. People will die without more aid.”
Prior to this recent wave of crisis, Yemen was already grappling with a desperate humanitarian situation, with around 22 million people requiring humanitarian assistance.
Islamic Relief’s response
Islamic Relief is providing over 500 families in need with cash assistance, giving them the flexibility to purchase what they need the most.
We are also proving long-term support, having worked in Yemen since 1998. We support communities affected by conflict, hunger and poverty with Ramadan food parcels, and new clothes and meat for Eid.
We are currently sponsoring 7,973 orphaned children in Yemen, whose families receive a monthly stipend to cover essentials.
Families across Yemen have been forced from their homes with little food, water or shelter. Donate to our Yemen Crisis Appeal today and help us continue providing lifesaving support.
