Over 112,000 displaced in Yemen as conflict pushes thousands to Djibouti

According to United Nations figures, the conflict between Iran-aligned Houthis and Saudi-backed government forces has displaced more than 112,000 Yemenis, most of them within the last fortnight and primarily from the western coast and the provinces of Taiz and Lahj. The displacement was triggered by a swift Houthi capture of the Red Sea coast, tightening their control over the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait. International Organization for Migration mission chief Abdusattor Esoev warned that aid supplies are dwindling.

In addition, roughly 3,000 Yemenis have fled by boat to Djibouti, a journey of just over 25 km, with the UNHCR noting that over 2,400 made the crossing in the past week, mainly women, children and the elderly. The influx pressures Djibouti’s population of about one million, which already shelters around 36,000 refugees from Somalia and Ethiopia. UN Population Fund representative Francesco Galtieri highlighted that thousands of women, including an estimated 2,000 pregnant individuals, are now on the move, with about 200 expected to give birth soon. Overall, humanitarian agencies estimate that nearly half of Yemen’s 22 million people require urgent assistance.