ESCALATING hostilities along Yemen's western coast have displaced more than 100,000 people and forced thousands more to seek safety across the Bab al-Mandeb Strait in Djibouti, the United Nations said on Tuesday.
Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, highlighted the severe toll of the renewed violence during a briefing at the UN headquarters in New York.
Citing a report from the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), he noted that the situation on the ground is increasingly desperate, with many families forced to flee in haste, carrying only a few meager belongings.
To address the worsening humanitarian crisis, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher announced the allocation of 9 million U.S. dollars to provide urgent assistance to the displaced families and to the communities receiving them.
Dujarric warned that the escalating conflict is complicating humanitarian efforts in the region.
"The widening escalation is adding further pressure on already underfunded and overstretched humanitarian operations in the region, where the needs remain high, while disruptions to trade, energy and essential supplies risk compounding humanitarian needs both within and beyond the region," said Dujarric.
He reiterated the UN's call for protecting civilians and preserving aid access.
"We call yet again on the parties to protect civilians, to respect international humanitarian law, to respect international law and to facilitate the safe and unhindered passage of humanitarian aid, so it can reach all those who need it, wherever they may be," said Dujarric.
The UN noted that Yemen's Houthi group is continuing their advance along the western coast toward the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait, prompting counteroffensives from Yemeni government forces.
Amid the clashes, UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg is actively engaging with all relevant parties, focusing on keeping communication channels open and preserving space for dialogue in hopes of halting the escalation.
