Mohammad Muslah is still in shock. After the capture of the port city of Al-Mokha by the Houthis in early September, his family was forced to leave their home without enough time to gather their belongings.
He said: "We have no idea what will happen now." His wife, Mona, is also worried because the family could not take their identification documents with them. She added: "The Houthis told us we had to leave immediately, and we didn't have time to take anything."
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Displacement of Families
Currently, the Muslah family and their two young daughters are staying with relatives in Aden, the largest city under government control in southern Yemen. The couple said: "We tell our children that we hope to return home soon."
Rashad Al-Alimi, the head of Yemen's Presidential Council, stated that recent changes on the battlefield will not alter the government's goal of restoring national sovereignty. However, given the recent advances of the Houthis and their conquests in Yemen, the return of the Muslah family to their home in Al-Mokha currently seems unlikely.
Increase in Conflicts and Its Consequences
Since late July, the Houthis have expanded their controlled areas from the north and center of the country to the shores of the Red Sea, seizing lands from the internationally recognized government supported by Saudi Arabia. The fighting continues to escalate, with exchanges of missile and drone attacks between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia ongoing.
Currently, the Houthis are advancing towards the strategic Khaboub mountains. This mountain range is significant due to its view over the surrounding areas of the Bab al-Mandab Strait. According to the World Health Organization, since the escalation of the conflict in August, at least 674 people have been killed and 2,998 injured. Additionally, the fighting has led to the displacement of over 132,000 people.
The conditions for the displaced are becoming increasingly difficult each day as they arrive at overcrowded shelters, severely needing shelter, food, clean water, healthcare, and protection. Before this escalation, over 5.2 million people in Yemen were already displaced, and the ongoing conflict exacerbates the humanitarian crisis in the country.
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