Thousands Flee to Djibouti Amid Renewed Yemen Fighting

Houthi Offensive Drives Thousands Across the Bab al-Mandeb Strait

The armed conflict in Yemen has escalated sharply, displacing nearly 86,000 people according to United Nations figures released on Sunday. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that more than 82,000 of those displacements occurred since the beginning of September. During this period, Houthi forces launched a wide-ranging offensive against Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces, capturing the remaining parts of Yemen’s Red Sea coast and strategic islands including Mayyun, also known as Perim, in the Bab al-Mandeb strait.

The heavy fighting hit districts in Taiz particularly hard, forcing approximately 56,000 people to flee that province alone, according to the IOM. As violence engulfed districts like Maqbanah and Jabal Habashi, residents crossed the water toward the Horn of Africa. Footage aired by Djibouti’s state broadcaster RTD captured wooden dhows and larger vessels arriving near Obock, loaded with families carrying basic belongings like sacks of clothing and water containers.

Djibouti Mobilizes Services as Arrivals Strain Local Resources

Djibouti’s government has deployed its coastguard, navy, army, and health services to rescue people stranded at sea and provide first aid at sites in Obock and Khor Angar. Finance Minister Ilyas Dawaleh documented the rapid influx on X, noting that arrivals jumped from about 500 people on September 11 to more than 2,000 by that evening, reaching a pace that is increasingly difficult for the country to manage. Prime Minister Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed traveled to Obock on Sunday to meet with officials from the UNHCR, the World Food Programme, and the IOM.

“The number of people arriving is large, and if it continues at this rate, we’ll not be able to manage,” said Alexandre Coissac, who heads the IOM in Djibouti. Coissac noted that families faced severe difficulties during the journey, with some stranded on the Yemeni side due to fuel shortages. UNICEF warned that children making the crossing are exposed to extreme heat, dehydration, and a lack of safe drinking water.

Global Shipping and Regional Security Implications

The humanitarian crisis unfolding in Djibouti carries broader economic and strategic consequences. The Bab al-Mandeb strait is one of the world’s most vital shipping corridors, carrying an estimated one in eight tonnes of global seaborne trade daily. The corridor has grown even more critical as an artery for Saudi Arabian oil exports following Iranian actions affecting the Strait of Hormuz.

“Djibouti, like many countries, depends heavily on international trade and the safety and security of sea lanes,” said Aden Omar Abdillahi, director of the Djibouti-based Institute of Political and Strategic Studies. “If this conflict impacts maritime security in the way some fear, it will have a massive impact.” The nation serves as a strategic base for foreign military operations, hosting bases for the United States, China, France, Japan, and Italy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are people fleeing Yemen for Djibouti?

A major Houthi offensive in western Yemen displaced tens of thousands of residents from districts in Taiz and along the Red Sea coast, prompting families to cross the Bab al-Mandeb strait by boat.

How many refugees have arrived in Djibouti?

Djiboutian authorities reported that more than 3,400 people landed on the northern coast over a 48-hour period, part of a wider regional displacement exceeding 85,000 people inside Yemen.

What is being done to help the new arrivals?

Djibouti’s military and health services are providing food and first aid at sites like Obock and Khor Angar, while UN agencies and local authorities are utilizing the Markazi camp and community housing for shelter.