Al-Hodeidah, Yemen – The International Organization for Migration (IOM), a United Nations agency, reported on Friday, November 29, 2024, that it recorded five shelling incidents in October, with approximately 25 shells landing in areas managed by the organization in the Al-Haymah region of Al-Tahita, southern Al-Hudaydah governorate.

In a report published on the UN ReliefWeb website, the IOM indicated that this shelling tragically resulted in the death of a four-year-old child. The report noted that sporadic clashes between internationally recognized Yemeni government forces and Houthi militants in the Al-Haymah area led to a slight influx of families fleeing to IOM-managed sites in Al-Khawkhah.

The organization stated that it will continue to monitor the situation in coordination with other humanitarian actors closely.

Additionally, the IOM reported a tragic incident on October 2, when two boats carrying 310 migrants returning from Yemen to Djibouti capsized. Reports indicated that smugglers forced the migrants to disembark near the coast of Obok, close to Godoria. The IOM noted that this tragic event resulted in the deaths of 45 migrants, with 111 others reported missing.

In light of these ongoing tragedies, Joyce Msuya, the Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, addressed the issue during a briefing to the UN Security Council on October 15, describing 2024 as "the deadliest year for migrants crossing the Eastern Route."

In October, UN humanitarian air services resumed flights between Aden and Marib after operations had been suspended since late July. The resumption of this key route is expected to facilitate humanitarian activities in Marib, which hosts one of the largest concentrations of displaced persons in Yemen.