Yemen Conflict Drives Up Oil Prices as Hundreds of Thousands Flee Homes

The ongoing conflict in Yemen between Houthi rebels and the Saudi-backed government is having far-reaching consequences, including driving up oil prices globally. The Iran-backed Houthis have advanced down the Red Sea coast to a key maritime chokepoint, threatening Saudi oil exports. This has pushed global fuel prices higher and rattled markets.

For Yemenis caught in the crossfire, the cost of this conflict is much greater. Many have fled their homes with only what they could carry, facing severe hardships including hunger, poverty, and lack of access to basic necessities like healthcare and sanitation.

Eshraq Abdel Gelil and her husband Mohamed Thabet are among those who have been forced to flee their home. They walked for 5 kilometers before taking a vehicle for 60 kilometers on mountain roads to reach the city of Taiz. Abdel Gelil was four months pregnant at the time, and she feared another miscarriage, which eventually occurred.

The conflict has displaced over 125,000 people, with many more facing severe humanitarian needs. UNICEF says that 57,000 children are among those who have been displaced. The agency's representative in Yemen, Obia Achieng, describes the situation as 'one of the most fast-moving and volatile displacement waves Yemen has seen in years.'

Humanitarian groups such as Prosper Global and CARE are on the ground, providing aid to those affected by the conflict. They say that there is an urgent need for food, maternal and newborn healthcare, hygiene supplies, private latrines, and mental health support.