Fighting intensifies in Yemen, raising fears of a severe humanitarian crisis

World Health Organization (WHO) Director‑General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned on Wednesday of catastrophic human losses amid escalating tensions in Yemen. He said that the renewed fighting between government forces and the Houthi movement is causing large‑scale displacement and further straining the country’s already weak health system. Tedros reported that, following the recent flare‑up, nearly one thousand people have been killed, more than 4,200 injured, and about 198,000 displaced. He also warned of the risk of outbreaks of cholera and measles. He added that the WHO’s immediate financial need has risen from 9 million dollars to 31 million dollars due to increased humanitarian and medical requirements, and appealed to international donors to boost aid. The latest escalation has opened new fronts in western and southern Yemen, including key coastal areas of the Red Sea and the region around the Bab al‑Mandab strait. Yemeni government forces claim advances in the western coastal area, including recapture of parts of the port city of Mokha and areas near the city of Zhabab close to Bab al‑Mandab. The Houthis reject these claims, saying that government forces are exaggerating their battlefield successes. In the province of Taiz, government forces also reported attacks on Houthi strongholds. These operations are part of a broader military campaign to regain control of the area. On the other hand, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saeed said that the Houthis have carried out dozens of attacks against Saudi‑backed forces in Lahij. According to his claim, more than 200 people were killed or wounded in these attacks, though the figures have not been independently verified. Saudi‑related cross‑border attacks have also increased. The Houthis have taken responsibility for targeting Saudi areas, including Riyadh, with missiles and drones. In response, Saudi Arabia and its allies have carried out air strikes on Houthi‑controlled areas in Yemen. The Houthis claim that Saudi Arabia launched 66 air and missile strikes on their controlled areas in a 24‑hour period, and that since the start of the latest flare‑up the total number of such attacks has reached 1,642, though these numbers have also not been independently verified. Reports have also come in of explosions over Sana’a and activity of combat aircraft. The Houthis say that Saudi air attacks have targeted not only the capital Sana’a but also the provinces of Ibb, Saada, and Al‑Jawf. The Bab al‑Mandab strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, has become a global concern for maritime security. Meanwhile, in response to Houthi‑attributed attacks, Turkey and Pakistan are deploying forces under a mutual defense agreement as preventive measures in Saudi Arabia, and the Mecca Agreement has been activated. This development indicates further regional expansion of the Yemen conflict, which already involves multiple local, regional, and international parties. The Yemen conflict began in the late 2014 when the Houthis seized most of Sana’a and northern Yemen. In 2015, a Saudi‑led coalition intervened in support of the internationally recognized government now based in Aden. A relatively peaceful period followed the ceasefire that began in April 2022 under UN mediation, but a comprehensive political solution has not been achieved. The latest fighting has raised concerns that Yemen could again enter a prolonged and intense war. For civilians, the recent violence brings additional hardships on top of years of displacement, destroyed infrastructure, and a severely strained health system. The WHO’s appeal for 31 million dollars reflects the growing need for emergency medical services, disease control, and humanitarian assistance as the conflict intensifies.