Yemen conflict displaces 112,000 people inside country, thousands flee to Djibouti, UN agency says

In Yemen, over 112,000 people have been displaced within the past two weeks due to ongoing fighting along the west coast, according to the United Nations migration agency. Nearly 3,000 individuals have fled by sea to Djibouti in the Horn of Africa during this period. Iran-aligned Houthi terrorists have intensified attacks on Saudi cities and energy infrastructure while advancing towards the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a critical shipping route.

The Saudi and Yemeni air forces have responded to the Houthi offensive by bombing their targets. The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, representative Sandrine Desamours stated that Djibouti is preparing for up to 10,000 refugees, which will strain the country's healthcare and education services. The International Organization for Migration reported that people are fleeing on overcrowded boats with limited supplies, with most being Yemeni families seeking refuge.

Additionally, Somaliland and Puntland have also reported increasing arrivals from Yemen, mainly consisting of Yemeni refugees and Somali returnees, though the numbers remain in the hundreds. UN agencies described the current situation as a crisis on top of multiple crises, noting that Yemen's health services and economy have been severely impacted by the long civil war between the internationally recognized administration backed by Saudi Arabia and the Houthi rebels.

The Houthi advance along Yemen's Red Sea coast has also strengthened Iran's position in its conflict with the United States, as the group tightens its control over the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a strategic chokepoint for global oil and commodity shipping.