Yemen Conflict Escalates as Houthi Fighters Take Control of Port City
The conflict in Yemen has escalated as Houthi fighters took control of the western port city of Mokha, displacing around 125,000 people and causing widespread disruption to healthcare services. The U.N. World Food Programme reports that this number is expected to grow as more families flee the fighting.
Sarah Ahmed, a health promotion supervisor with Doctors Without Borders in Mokha's General Hospital, says that staff are focusing on essential services, including caring for patients who cannot leave due to medical conditions or being pregnant. 'There are women who need cesarean sections and children who need treatment,' she explained.
The Houthis' capture of the port city has also allowed them to consolidate control over the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a key waterway in the Red Sea where they have previously attacked Saudi oil tankers. The group's leader, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, claims that their targets are not civilians but rather Saudi military installations and oil sites.
The conflict has pushed Brent crude prices past $100 per barrel and diesel to record highs in the U.S., exacerbating existing shortages and funding issues for aid groups. The international community is calling for urgent attention to the crisis, which affects millions of people in Yemen.