1,400 Yemenis Flee to Djibouti in 24 Hours as Houthis Tighten Bab al-Mandeb Grip
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Sep 13
1,400 Yemenis Flee to Djibouti in 24 Hours as Houthis Tighten Bab al-Mandeb Grip
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Sep 13
Summary
About 1,400 people reached Djibouti from Yemen in 24 hours, Djibouti's economy minister said, marking a sharp new refugee surge across the Bab al-Mandeb strait.
Houthi forces triggered the flight by seizing Mocha on Thursday and then overrunning coastline and islands around the strait, emptying villages in nearby districts.
Obock, just 20 kilometres from Yemen, received at least 500 of the arrivals on Friday, including women and children rescued after their boats ran out of fuel at sea.
The IOM said 76,000 people have been displaced in Yemen since July, with the total quadrupling after the latest escalation and more arrivals expected in coming days.
Djibouti already hosts more than 36,000 registered refugees and asylum seekers, underscoring how the Bab al-Mandeb offensive is spilling into a regional humanitarian strain.