The UN criticized cross‑border attacks by Houthi forces, including an attempt on Riyadh, while a new wave of fighting inside Yemen has driven rapid internal displacement and strained health and aid systems.
UN spokesperson condemned Houthi cross‑border attacks, including an attempted strike on Riyadh, and called for parties to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.
Health and humanitarian services are under severe strain: ambulances and health facilities have been attacked or closed, and key supplies and obstetric care are critically short.
Humanitarian response is hindered by insecurity, damaged roads, telecoms disruptions and port damage, while funding shortfalls and access constraints persist.
UN officials have publicly condemned a series of cross‑border attacks by Houthi forces, including an attempted strike on Riyadh, as renewed fighting inside Yemen forces a fast‑growing wave of displacement. The UN called on all parties to exercise restraint and to uphold obligations under international humanitarian law, including the prohibition on attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure.
The recent escalation follows clashes between Saudi‑backed Yemeni Government forces and Houthi fighters. Since early September the Houthis pushed along Yemen's Red Sea coast and seized territory near the Bab al‑Mandab Strait, a strategic chokepoint for global shipping. Saudi Arabia responded with hundreds of airstrikes, and the Houthis increased drone and missile attacks into southwestern Saudi territory.
Most displacement is concentrated in a few governorates. Ta'iz hosts the largest number of displaced people (73,494), followed by Lahj (33,828), Aden (8,946) and Al Hodeidah (8,244). Thousands have also fled by sea: more than 3,100 people crossed the Red Sea to Djibouti since the recent escalation began.
Humanitarian delivery faces multiple obstacles. Insecurity, damaged roads, telecommunications disruptions and damage to Al Makha port are hampering access and aid flows, according to UNHCR and OCHA. Humanitarian partners have reached nearly 13,000 displaced households with rapid response kits. The World Health Organization delivered surgical supplies and antibiotics to four hospitals in Aden and Marib, but OCHA warned that funding shortfalls and access constraints continue to limit the wider response.
UN officials are also engaged in diplomacy. The UN's Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, was reported to be in Muscat for talks with Omani officials and Houthi representatives. The UN repeated its call for all parties to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure and to allow safe, unhindered delivery of aid.
IOM staff described arriving families as having lost their homes and incomes, moving into towns already struggling to support residents. Host communities are sharing limited resources, but agency statements emphasize that local support alone cannot meet needs.
The situation remains volatile: military operations around strategic coastal areas and continued cross‑border strikes increase the risk of further displacement and humanitarian deterioration. UN agencies are urging parties to comply with international humanitarian law and to facilitate humanitarian access so aid can reach people affected by the recent surge in fighting and displacement.
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