1,400 Flee Yemen Fighting, Seek Refuge in Djibouti: Minister

About 1,400 people have fled Yemen for neighbouring Djibouti amid fighting between government forces and Iran-aligned Houthi fighters, Djibouti’s Economy and Finance Minister Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh said Saturday.

The Houthis control much of northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa and the western port city of Hodeida. In recent days, they have rapidly advanced along the coast, capturing the port city of Mokha on Thursday.

The group has since seized control of Yemen’s Red Sea coastline and several islands, tightening its hold on the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait on Friday. The waterway is a crucial shipping route connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and providing access to the Suez Canal.

“1,400 refugees arrived in Djibouti from Yemen in just 24 hours,” Dawaleh said in a post on X.

Djibouti, located across the Bab el-Mandeb Strait from Yemen, has received an influx of displaced people fleeing the violence. Safiya Ibrahim, humanitarian response coordinator for the International Organization for Migration, said vulnerable groups, including women and children, had reached the shores of Obock, with more arrivals expected in the coming days.

The United Nations estimates that at least 76,000 people have been displaced across Yemen since July, with the figure quadrupling over the past week following the latest escalation in fighting.

The latest violence began last week when Houthi fighters launched a fresh offensive against Saudi-backed government forces in areas bordering the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

The strategic waterway has gained further significance for Saudi oil exports since Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz. Hundreds of people have reportedly been killed on both sides in the ongoing clashes.