Fighting in Yemen has intensified as Houthi forces have increased attacks on Saudi cities and energy infrastructure while advancing along the country’s Red Sea coast towards the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a strategically important international shipping route.
In response, Saudi and Yemeni forces have carried out airstrikes against Houthi positions as the conflict continues to expand.
Nearly 3,000 people have crossed the Gulf of Aden into Djibouti in less than a week, with escalating violence forcing more Yemeni families to leave their homes. Most of those arriving in Djibouti are Yemeni nationals seeking safety from the fighting.
Djibouti is preparing to receive as many as 10,000 refugees, placing additional pressure on the country’s healthcare, education and other essential services.
Many people fleeing Yemen are reportedly travelling on overcrowded boats with limited supplies of food and drinking water. A small number of migrants, primarily from Ethiopia, have also begun travelling towards Djibouti amid the worsening security situation.
Authorities in Somaliland and Puntland have likewise reported an increase in arrivals from Yemen, including Yemeni refugees and Somali refugees returning to the region. The number of arrivals in both areas remains in the hundreds.
The latest escalation has added to Yemen’s already severe humanitarian crisis. Years of conflict have damaged the country’s healthcare system, weakened its economy and displaced large numbers of people.
The continued Houthi advance along the Red Sea coast has also raised concerns over regional security and international maritime trade. Greater Houthi control around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait could affect one of the key maritime chokepoints used for global oil and commodities shipments.
