Tens of thousands of residents have fled the fighting along Yemen's western coastline where pro-government fighters backed by a Saudi-led coalition are engaged in fierce battles with Iran-aligned Houthi rebels.
Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, told reporters on Monday that about 5,200 families, or around 26,000 people, have sought safety within their own districts or in other parts of Hudaida governorate.
"The number is expected to increase as hostilities continue," he said.
Earlier, UN human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein voiced concern that the Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates-led military operation in Yemen could endanger millions of civilians.
"I emphasise my grave worry regarding the Saudi and Emirati-led coalition's ongoing attacks in Hudaida - which could result in enormous civilian casualties and have a disastrous impact on life-saving humanitarian aid to millions of people which comes through the port," al-Hussein said on Monday.
He was speaking at the opening session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, where he gave an overview of the overall human rights situation while denouncing the threat of growing "chauvinistic nationalism" around the world.
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