Aden (South24 Center)

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced on Sunday (November 1) that more than 300,000 people have been displaced by escalating fighting in western Yemen, most of them in recent months, amid worsening humanitarian needs and difficulties delivering aid to affected areas.

The latest figures from the IOM's Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) show that 300,391 people from 50,059 households have been displaced since the escalation began in June, including 299,335 people who fled their homes between early August and October 31.

Taiz Governorate recorded the highest number of newly displaced people, with approximately 133,800 individuals, accounting for 45% of the total, followed by Lahj with 73,110 people (24%) and Aden with 56,934 (19%).

The IOM said more than 43,000 people have fled Al-Mudharaba and Ras Al-Ara District in the southern governorate of Lahj since the beginning of October, marking the highest recorded displacement from a single district in the country during this period.

The organization added that the humanitarian situation in Taiz continues to deteriorate, with more families fleeing southward toward the interim capital, Aden. Meanwhile, fighting and road closures have driven up the prices of many essential commodities in Taiz city by three to five times, making it increasingly difficult for residents to access food and other basic necessities.

IOM Yemen Chief of Mission Abdusattor Esoev said Yemeni families are being forced to flee again after years of conflict, often carrying little more than a few belongings. He warned that funding shortages could leave thousands of families without the assistance they urgently need.

The organization said it has deployed five mobile medical teams across Taiz, Lahj, Aden and Marib governorates. However, humanitarian needs continue to exceed current response capacities. The IOM said it requires $45 million over the next six months to provide emergency and life-saving assistance.

Separately, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) reported in an October 11 update that 85 schools in Lahj had closed due to the fighting, while 98 health facilities in Taiz were either out of service or operating only partially.

The IOM called on all parties to the conflict to protect civilians and humanitarian workers and ensure safe and unhindered access for humanitarian assistance, particularly to hard-to-reach areas of Taiz Governorate.