More than 184,000 displaced as fighting intensifies in Yemen

Intense fighting in Yemen has forced more than 184,000 people from their homes since the start of August, most of them since early September, the UN migration agency (IOM) said on Monday.In the week to 3 October alone, the International Organisation for Migration recorded nearly 21,800 people who had been displaced at least once – a 26 per cent increase from the previous week. A further 6,474 were displaced on 4 October. All are in need of food, shelter and other basic humanitarian aid.“As the conflict intensifies, more and more people are thrown into an appalling cycle of displacement, living in fear of their lives and with their futures uncertain,” said IOM Director General Amy Pope, calling on the international community to do more to secure humanitarian access.Sleeping in the openAn IOM assessment at three displacement sites in Ma’rib last week found that the lack of safe shelter was the most critical concern. Some families are sleeping in the open, exposing them to violence and to the effects of the conflict, including airstrikes. Women and girls raised the shortage of appropriate latrines.Approximately 45 per cent of households assessed had been displaced before and had lost ...