Djibouti calls for assistance as thousands of Yemenis flee to country

Waheda Muhammad Ali was among those who fled Yemen to escape heavy fighting between government forces and Iran-backed Houthi rebels. She braved a terrifying sea journey from the Middle East to Africa. According to the International Organization for Migration, 85,818 people have been displaced in Yemen to date, with 82,000 displaced since the start of September.

The fighting has led to a significant number of people seeking refuge in Djibouti. The Economy and Finance Minister of Djibouti, Ilyas M Dawaleh, reported that 1,400 Yemenis had arrived in Djibouti in 24 hours, a number that has now exceeded 2,000 people. Many of these refugees, including women and children, have been rescued at sea after their boats ran out of fuel while crossing the Bab al-Mandeb strait.

The city of Obock in Djibouti has been a preferred arrival point for those seeking refuge from war-torn Yemen. The International Organization for Migration's humanitarian response coordinator, Safiya Ibrahim, stated that vulnerable groups such as women and children have reached the shores of Obock, with more expected in the coming days. Djibouti hosts tens of thousands of refugees and asylum seekers.

Brief written by urgent.news from Al-Monitor, Ghanaian Times — 2 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.