More Than 112,000 Displaced by Intensifying Yemen Fighting as Thousands Flee to Djibouti

An escalation of fighting in Yemen between Iran-allied Houthi forces and Saudi-backed troops loyal to the internationally recognized government has displaced more than 112,000 people, according to United Nations officials. The rapid escalation has also forced nearly 3,000 individuals to flee the country by boat across the Bab al-Mandeb Strait to Djibouti.

Abdusattor Esoev, the Yemen mission chief for the International Organization for Migration (IOM), told reporters that the vast majority of the internally displaced individuals were forced from their homes over a two-week period. The displacement has been concentrated primarily along Yemen's west coast and in the provinces of Taiz and Lahj.

The current wave of displacement was triggered when Houthi fighters launched a rapid advance, seizing control of Yemen's entire Red Sea coast. This strategic territorial grab allowed the group to tighten its control over the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a vital global shipping route connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. The waterway has taken on heightened importance as an alternative shipping route amid broader regional conflicts that have restricted passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

Humanitarian conditions inside the country have grown increasingly dire. According to IOM estimates provided by Esoev, approximately 22 million people—representing nearly half of Yemen's total population—are currently in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Furthermore, more than 65,000 registered refugees and asylum seekers already inside Yemen, primarily originating from Somalia and Ethiopia, face mounting threats from the ongoing hostilities.

Francesco Galtieri, a representative for the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), warned that the humanitarian crisis is compounding "by the hour." Galtieri noted that thousands of women, having lost all their possessions, are fleeing alongside their children. Among the displaced population, an estimated 2,000 are pregnant women, with approximately 200 expected to give birth in the near future.

In addition to those displaced internally, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that roughly 3,000 Yemenis have crossed the sea to seek refuge in Djibouti. The maritime crossing from Yemen to Djibouti spans a distance of just over 25 kilometers across the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. UNHCR data indicates that more than 2,400 people made this perilous voyage over the course of a single week, with the fleeing population consisting predominantly of women, children, and older adults.

The sudden influx of arrivals has placed an added strain on Djibouti, a nation with a population of approximately one million people. Sandrine Desamours, a UNHCR representative, pointed out that while the absolute number of arrivals might seem modest, it represents a substantial burden when evaluated in proportion to Djibouti's domestic population. The country was already hosting roughly 36,000 refugees prior to this crisis, primarily individuals who had fled from Somalia and Ethiopia.

Aid organizations warn that their capacity to respond to the unfolding emergency is severely constrained. IOM mission chief Esoev cautioned that operational resources are critically low and existing aid stocks are projected to be depleted very soon, leaving humanitarian agencies struggling to address the expanding needs of both the newly displaced populations inside Yemen and those seeking safety abroad.