At least 46,000 displaced by escalating Yemen fighting: UN

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) warns that the figure is rising ‘by the hour’ as it calls for safe humanitarian access.More than 46,000 people have been driven from their homes in Yemen in the wake of the latest escalation in fighting between Houthi rebels and government forces, according to United Nations data.The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) warned that the figure is rising “by the hour” in a statement issued on Friday.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Houthis, Yemeni forces engaged in fierce battles: Why each front matterslist 2 of 4Yemen’s Houthis seize strategic Red Sea city of Mochalist 3 of 4Houthis capture Yemeni town of Mocha: Why it’s importantlist 4 of 4UN envoy warns Security Council Yemen’s war has entered ‘dangerous phase’end of listThe UN agency called on all parties to the conflict to guarantee safe humanitarian access and protect civilians, aid workers and humanitarian assets on the ground.“Families are being forced to flee for the second or third time in this conflict, with almost nothing left,” Amy Pope, head of the IOM, said in the statement.The agency said many people had reportedly fled Mocha with their belongings overnight after the Iran-allied Houthi rebels captured the strategically important Red Sea port city from the internationally recognised government on Thursday.Entire villages were said to have been abandoned in some areas of the war-torn country. The IOM urged the parties to the conflict to guarantee humanitarian access and ensure the safety of aid workers.The statement came amid reports on Friday that the Houthis had captured a strategically located island in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and now control Yemen’s entire Red Sea coast.‘Two new crises’Separately on Friday, the UN also voiced concern over the Houthis seizing a key humanitarian compound and its assets in Mocha, warning that humanitarian personnel and facilities must be protected.“The compound houses staff of UN agencies working to provide humanitarian assistance to vulnerable communities in the area,” UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq told reporters.