Severe Escalation in Yemen Conflict Leaves Over 112,000 Displaced and Thousands Seeking Refuge in Djibouti

Intensifying conflict in Yemen between the Houthis and Saudi-backed forces loyal to the internationally recognised government has displaced more than 112,000 people, with nearly 3,000 fleeing across the sea to Djibouti, according to the United Nations.

“Our resources are very, very, very limited and our stocks will be depleted very soon,” Abdusattor Esoev, mission chief in Yemen for the International Organization for Migration, stated to reporters on Friday. The majority of the over 112,000 internally displaced persons have been forced from their homes within the past two weeks, primarily along the west coast as well as in the provinces of Taiz and Lahj.

This wave of displacement erupted when the Houthis initiated a rapid advance, taking control of the entire Red Sea coast of Yemen to consolidate their hold on the critical shipping route of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Abdusattor Esoev estimates that 22 million Yemenis, representing nearly half the population, are currently in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Additionally, over 65,000 registered refugees and asylum seekers in Yemen, predominantly hailing from Somalia and Ethiopia, face mounting threats.

Francesco Galtieri, a representative for the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), warned that the crisis is escalating “by the hour,” noting that thousands of women who have lost all of their possessions are fleeing alongside their children. Francesco Galtieri estimates that the displaced population includes 2,000 pregnant women, with approximately 200 expected to give birth in the near future.

The UN refugee agency reported that around 3,000 Yemenis have escaped Yemen by boat to Djibouti. The shortest maritime route traversing the Bab al-Mandeb Strait measures just over 25 kilometres. The UNHCR noted that over 2,400 individuals completed the voyage over the preceding week, consisting largely of women, children, and older people.

This sudden influx places additional strain on Djibouti and its population of approximately one million residents. The nation already accommodates around 36,000 refugees, mostly originating from Somalia and Ethiopia, according to UNHCR representative Sandrine Desamours. “While the number may sound small,” she emphasized, it must be evaluated in proportion to the total population.

The strategically vital Bab al-Mandeb connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, emerging as an alternative shipping corridor as the United States' war against Iran restricted the Strait of Hormuz.