Over 2,000 Yemenis flee to Djibouti as reception efforts come under strain

More than 2,000 people fleeing the fighting in Yemen have reached northern Djibouti, near Obock. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reports that authorities have mobilized the navy, army, police, and health services to assist the newcomers.

A significant portion of those received are women and young children. They have been transferred to the Markazi site in Obock, where they are provided with water, hot meals, and initial humanitarian assistance with support from the IOM and other UN partners.

The influx has accelerated in recent days. Djiboutian Minister of Economy and Finance, Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh, indicated that approximately 1,400 refugees arrived in just 24 hours. The IOM later reported that the number of people who have reached Djibouti since the resumption of hostilities has exceeded 2,000.

The crisis is linked to a new surge of fighting in western Yemen. As of September 13, the IOM recorded 85,818 internally displaced persons in the country, including 82,164 since the beginning of the month. The Taiz governorate alone accounted for nearly 56,000 displaced individuals.

However, the passage to Djibouti is becoming more difficult. The Associated Press reports that a fuel shortage in Yemen is limiting boat departures, while needs are increasing in Obock. Djiboutian authorities fear that reception capacities may soon be overwhelmed if arrivals continue at the same pace.

Obock is located on the African shore of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, facing Yemen. This area is already a heavily trafficked migration corridor between the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. As of September 13, newcomers were being transferred to the Markazi site in Obock, where the IOM and authorities provided them with water, hot meals, and emergency assistance.