Yemen displacement crisis surges as Houthis seize Red Sea coast

At least 76,000 people have been displaced in Yemen since July, with the number quadrupling in the past week as fighting intensifies between government forces and Iran-backed Houthi rebels, the United Nations said Saturday. The rapid advance by Houthi fighters along the Red Sea coast has captured key locations, including the port city of Mokha and the strategic island of Mayun, bringing their forces near the vital Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that the displacement crisis is worsening by the hour. "The situation is deteriorating by the day. Displacement figures are expected to rise further in the coming days," the agency stated. More than 70,000 of those displaced have fled since the start of September, with the hardest-hit area being the Taiz governorate, where nearly 50,000 people have been displaced from several districts. The Houthis captured the Red Sea port of Mokha on Thursday and the island of Mayun, also known as Perim, on Friday, according to officials. This swift advance extends their reach near one of the world's most important commercial and energy shipping lanes.