UN Warns of Worsening Displacement Crisis in Yemen, Calls for Urgent Funding
UN Warns of Worsening Displacement Crisis in Yemen, Calls for Urgent Funding
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The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has warned that Yemen’s displacement crisis is worsening amid renewed escalation and growing humanitarian needs, saying that more than 128,000 people have been newly displaced since the start of the latest escalation in September.
According to UNHCR data released on 22 September 2026, the newly displaced people have joined around 5.2 million internally displaced persons already living across Yemen. The agency warned that continued fighting could trigger further waves of displacement, increasing the need for shelter, food, clean water, healthcare and protection services.
The impact of the escalation has also extended beyond Yemen’s borders, with increased movements of people seeking refuge across the sea toward countries in the Horn of Africa. UNHCR reported that around 2,935 people arrived in Djibouti within eight days up to 17 September, with women and children making up about 60 percent of arrivals.
The agency said Yemen was already facing one of the world’s most complex and prolonged humanitarian crises before the latest escalation. An estimated 22.3 million people are expected to require humanitarian assistance in 2026, representing more than half of the country’s population. Yemen also hosts more than 64,000 refugees and asylum seekers, most of them from countries in the Horn of Africa.
Humanitarian operations continue to face major challenges, including insecurity, damaged roads, communication disruptions and movement restrictions, which limit aid organizations’ ability to reach affected communities, particularly in conflict areas.
UNHCR said the humanitarian response is also suffering from severe funding shortages, warning that continued international support is essential to maintain protection programs, emergency assistance and life-saving aid.
The agency has activated emergency response measures in Yemen, focusing on protection services, shelter support, relief supplies and cash assistance, while expressing readiness to expand operations if additional funding and access to affected areas become available.
