Yemen conflict displaces 112,000 people inside country

The United Nations migration agency reported that over 112,000 individuals have been displaced within Yemen over the past two weeks due to ongoing conflict along the country's western coast. Nearly 3,000 of these refugees have fled by sea to Djibouti, a Horn of Africa nation. The Houthi rebels, aligned with Iran, have intensified attacks on Saudi cities and energy infrastructure while advancing towards the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial shipping route, using the Gulf of Aden as a launching point.

In response, the Saudi and Yemeni air forces have targeted Houthi positions. Djibouti is preparing for up to 10,000 refugees, putting significant strain on its healthcare and education systems. The UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) noted that many refugees are traveling on overcrowded boats with limited supplies of food and water, arriving in Djibouti.

Additionally, there have been reports of increased arrivals from Somaliland and Puntland, primarily consisting of Yemeni refugees and Somali returnees, though numbers remain in the hundreds. UN agencies emphasized that the current crisis is exacerbated by a long-standing civil war between the internationally recognized administration supported by Saudi Arabia and the Houthi rebels, creating one of the world's largest humanitarian emergencies.

The Houthi advance along Yemen's Red Sea coast has strengthened Iran's influence in the conflict, as Tehran further solidifies control over the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital chokepoint for global oil and commodity shipping, more than six months after US and Israeli strikes against Iran.