SANAA, Yemen

More than 74,000 Yemenis have been displaced from their homes since the start of this year due to ongoing fighting in the war-torn country, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Tuesday.

"From 1 January 2021 to 9 October 2021, IOM Yemen [...] estimates that 12,413 households (74,478 Individuals) have experienced displacement at least once," IOM said in a statement.

The UN agency said it detected the displacement of 504 households (3,024 individuals) at least once in the period between Oct. 3 and 9.

“Most displacements resulted from the increased conflict” in Marib (central Yemen), Shabwah (southeast), and Al Bayda (central Yemen).

In recent months, Houthi rebels have stepped up attacks to take control of the oil-rich Marib province, one of the most important strongholds of the legitimate government and home to the headquarters of Yemen’s Defense Ministry.

Yemen has been engulfed by violence and instability since 2014, when Iran-aligned Houthi rebels captured much of the country, including the capital Sanaa.

A Saudi-led coalition aimed at reinstating the Yemeni government has worsened the situation, causing one of the world’s worst man-made humanitarian crises with 233,000 people killed, nearly 80% or about 30 million needing humanitarian assistance and protection, and more than 13 million in danger of starvation, according to UN estimates.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar