UN: 75,000 Displaced in Yemen Since Early 2024

The United Nations has reported that over 75,000 people have been displaced in Yemen due to escalating conflict and severe weather conditions since the beginning of 2024.

According to a report published by the UN Population Fund in Yemen on its "X" platform, the rise in conflict between the legitimate government and the Houthi group, along with harsh weather, has led to this significant displacement.

As of mid-April, UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg highlighted an escalation in hostilities across various fronts, warning of dire consequences for both Yemen and the region if the conflict continues.

The UN’s rapid response mechanism, led by the Population Fund, has provided emergency relief to 96% of the displaced individuals across 18 affected provinces.

Recent weeks have seen severe flooding in multiple areas of Yemen, causing fatalities and substantial damage to thousands of families’ properties.

The Population Fund aims to secure $70 million in funding for 2024 to maintain its crucial support and services for women and girls.

The floods have exacerbated the plight of residents already struggling with fragile basic services due to the ongoing war, now in its ninth year.

According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, lightning strikes, heavy rains, and flash floods during the 2023 rainy season resulted in 413 casualties.

The Federation emphasized that Yemen ranks third among the most climate-vulnerable countries and is the least prepared to cope with climate shocks. Consequently, natural hazards like heavy rainfall and flooding have devastating effects on local communities already suffering from a prolonged conflict.

In other developments, Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad Al-Alimi announced a roadmap to resolve the country’s crisis, starting with a ceasefire between the government and the Houthi group.

During a meeting with political representatives in Hadramaut province, Al-Alimi outlined a three-phase plan to address the crisis.

The initial phase involves a ceasefire and the implementation of economic and humanitarian measures to build trust, followed by Yemeni-Yemeni dialogue to establish the foundations for a transitional period, which constitutes the third phase of the roadmap.