A surge in conflict along Yemen’s western coast has displaced more than 100,000 civilians, according to the United Nations. Hostilities between Houthi rebels and forces loyal to the internationally recognized government have intensified, creating an urgent humanitarian emergency and forcing thousands of families to flee across the Bab al-Mandeb strait toward Djibouti in search of safety.
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reported that over 2,400 people have crossed the dangerous maritime corridor within the last four days alone. The majority of these new arrivals are children, women, and the elderly. Sandrine Desamours, a UNHCR representative in Djibouti, described the arrivals as exhausted and distressed, noting that many have reached the shore with only the few belongings they were able to carry during their frantic escape.
The escalation follows a rapid military advance by the Iran-aligned Houthis, who have seized control of the nation’s entire Red Sea coastline to solidify their presence near the Bab al-Mandeb. This strategic waterway serves as a vital global shipping lane, particularly as alternative routes have been sought amidst the broader regional maritime conflict. The violence also places roughly 65,000 registered refugees and asylum seekers, primarily from Ethiopia and Somalia, at heightened risk.
Families caught in the path of the fighting described harrowing departures. Hussein Haydara, who fled Hodeidah, explained that the intensity of the shelling and sniper fire left little time to prepare. “You could barely take your children and the fewest essentials with you,” he said. “We were terrified of the shelling and sniper fire, and you just flee as quickly as you can out of fear for your children and your family.”
The humanitarian impact has left many families fractured. Aisha Muhammad, who escaped from a village near Mocha, remains separated from her five children. She reported that they are currently trapped, blocked by ongoing hostilities and surviving on meager rations. “My daughters called me saying they want to join us, but it has become too difficult,” she stated.
UNHCR officials warn that the regional situation is reaching a breaking point as host communities become increasingly overstretched. The agency has issued an urgent appeal for $14 million in new funding to provide essential protection, healthcare, clean water, and shelter for both those remaining inside Yemen and those seeking refuge in Djibouti. The report also notes that as more people are displaced, pressuring communities with limited resources, the UNHCR statement warned that the violence threatens to trigger a humanitarian crisis. The report also notes that with additional support needed for those arriving in Djibouti, the agency said it requires an estimated $14m in new funding to meet the immediate needs of displaced families inside Yemen. The report also notes that no bread, nothing else, they are cooking only rice.