Yemen conflict displaces 112,000 as thousands flee to Djibouti

Renewed fighting in Yemen has displaced at least 112,000 people inside the country, while nearly 3,000 others have crossed the sea to Djibouti, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

The latest displacement figures reflect a rapid escalation of fighting along Yemen’s western coast, where clashes involving Houthi forces have forced families to abandon their homes and seek safety elsewhere.

IOM’s displacement tracking showed that more than 100,000 people had already been displaced by the escalation by mid-September, with the largest concentrations recorded in Taiz and Lahj governorates. The agency’s latest figures indicate that the number has continued to rise.

Across the Gulf of Aden, Djibouti has received thousands of Yemenis arriving by boat, many of them women and children. UN agencies say the influx is putting increasing pressure on the small Horn of Africa country’s already limited humanitarian resources.

UNFPA reported that 2,776 new arrivals had been registered in Djibouti’s Obock region as of September 16, with the majority of those arriving being women and children. The agency said the arrivals already represented more than 9% of Obock town’s resident population.

The humanitarian situation is particularly challenging because many people are arriving after dangerous sea crossings with few belongings. Aid agencies are providing food, water, shelter, medical assistance and other emergency support at reception sites, including the Markazi site in Obock.

The International Organization for Migration has warned that more people could attempt the journey if the fighting continues. A fuel shortage inside Yemen has also complicated efforts to leave the country by sea, with people reportedly waiting until fuel becomes available for boats to make the crossing.

Djiboutian authorities have expressed concern that the continuing influx could overwhelm the country’s capacity to provide accommodation and basic services. UN agencies have said they are preparing for the possibility of more than 10,000 arrivals, while calling for additional international support.

The latest crisis is unfolding against the backdrop of Yemen’s prolonged civil war, which has already left millions displaced and severely damaged the country’s infrastructure and public services.

UNHCR said the recent fighting has uprooted families in several governorates, including Al Hodeidah, Taiz, Lahj, Aden and Abyan, while warning that further escalation could lead to additional displacement and refugee movements.

With Yemen and Djibouti separated by the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the latest population movement is adding another humanitarian dimension to the conflict and increasing pressure on communities receiving those fleeing the violence.