Yemenis flee to Djibouti as fighting intensifies along Red Sea coast

More than 3,000 Yemenis have arrived in Djibouti in recent days after fleeing intensified fighting along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, according to the BBC. The UN estimates that more than 120,000 people have been displaced by the surge in violence.

New arrivals have crossed the Bab al-Mandab strait by boat, with families reaching Markazi camp in Obock carrying few possessions. Refugees described fleeing air strikes, missiles and drones, while some arrived exhausted and in severe distress.

The escalation follows reported advances by Houthi forces along the Red Sea coast towards the maritime chokepoint. Saudi Arabia backs Yemen’s internationally recognised government and has reportedly conducted hundreds of air strikes, while the Houthis have launched drones and missiles at targets in south-western Saudi Arabia.

The scale and locations of the reported attacks have not been independently verified in the source material. The displacement figures are attributed to the UN, but no dates or methodology are provided for the estimates.

Djibouti has said it will not join the conflict, despite hosting major US and Chinese military facilities. Markazi camp is sheltering newly arrived families alongside Yemenis displaced during earlier phases of the war.

Yemen’s civil war has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions since 2014. A UN-brokered truce agreed between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis in 2022 has reportedly broken down.