Renewed fighting in Yemen has plunged the country into its worst humanitarian crisis since 2022. Hunger is escalating, hospitals are overwhelmed, and over 200,000 people have been displaced. With international aid dwindling, Yemeni government forces have initiated a counter-offensive against Houthi rebels, aiming to advance on the capital, Sanaa, according to Yemen’s ambassador to France.
Hostilities resumed this summer between the Iran-backed Houthis and government troops supported by Saudi Arabia, following a four-year lull that began with a UN-brokered ceasefire in 2022. Since then, at least 959 people have died, and over 4,200 have been injured across 10 governorates between 6 August and 2 October, according to the Yemeni Ministry of Health and Population. Prior to this resurgence in violence, more than 5.2 million people were already internally displaced.
The conflict has compounded an already dire humanitarian situation, with over half of Yemen’s 41 million population in need of assistance. Over 2.2 million children under five are acutely malnourished, and nearly 19 million lack access to healthcare.
International funding for Yemen has sharply declined, leaving it among the world’s three most underfunded crises. The UN’s humanitarian response plan received just 25% of necessary funding in 2025 and only 20% in 2026. Oxfam has highlighted the neglect of the situation by the international community, with its campaigns leader, Louis-Nicolas Jandeaux, expressing concerns over new needs arising as violence escalates. Around 90% of Yemen’s food is imported, making the country particularly vulnerable, and the UN’s World Food Programme warns that the situation could worsen without rapid international aid.
The health system is buckling under the strain of rising casualties, with only 60% of hospitals fully operational, according to the World Health Organization. The organisation reported that more than 60% of health facilities are now overwhelmed, and the risk of disease spread is increasing. Reports of suspected cholera cases and over 9,000 dengue fever cases have emerged, alongside concerns about measles.
Thousands of families are once again fleeing violence. Since fighting resumed, the International Organisation for Migration reported that more than 200,000 people have been displaced, with 57,000 children affected in just the first two weeks of September. Furthermore, 243 schools have closed or suspended classes, impacting over 137,000 students.
Taiz governorate has seen a rise in displaced populations. The Houthis recently cut a key supply route, which could worsen the humanitarian and military situation in the area. Residents are resorting to harmful coping mechanisms, such as reducing meal portions, as aid groups like Oxfam focus on immediate needs for water and sanitation.
In the face of setbacks, government troops have launched a counter-offensive, aiming to reclaim control from the Houthis. Heavy fighting continues near the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait, raising concerns about whether the rebels can maintain control over vital supply routes. Yemen’s ambassador to France stated that their goal is to defeat the Houthis and push towards Sanaa.
Both Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s president have called for more direct US involvement, though so far, Washington has remained uninvolved. The ambassador stressed that Yemenis are capable of liberating their country independently, though it may take longer without US support. He has urged the international community for increased aid, warning that without enhanced humanitarian assistance, the situation will only worsen.
Oxfam’s Jandeaux noted that while Yemen is often viewed as a perpetual crisis, many people are fighting for daily survival and deserve attention.
