Yemen’s Houthi Offensive Displaces Thousands into Djibouti

The ongoing Houthi offensive in Yemen has led to the displacement of over 82,000 individuals since early September, as reported by the U.N. International Organization for Migration (IOM). Among those, more than 3,000 have made the perilous journey across the Gulf of Aden to Djibouti, a nation that was already grappling with its own challenges from refugees coming from Somalia and Ethiopia.

Obock, a small port town in Djibouti, is situated just around 12 nautical miles from Yemen. Historically, during quieter periods in Yemen, this location served as a departure point for refugees from Africa seeking to reach the wealthier Gulf Arab states. However, the situation took a dramatic turn recently when over 1,400 Yemeni refugees arrived in Obock in a single day.

Reports indicate that entire villages along Yemen’s Red Sea coast have been abandoned due to the advancing Houthis. While some individuals fled inland, many chose to traverse the coastline, using small boats to reach safety in Obock. A considerable number of those escaping are women and children, often arriving with very few resources or belongings.

The IOM has highlighted the compounding nature of the crisis, noting that about 65,000 refugees from Somalia and Ethiopia, previously residing in Yemen, have now found themselves displaced once more.

According to Abdusattor Esoev, the IOM mission chief for Yemen, “Our resources are very, very, very limited and our stocks will be depleted very soon.”

Francesco Galtieri from the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA) remarked on the urgent situation, stating that hundreds of pregnant women are among the refugees, and the crisis is intensifying rapidly.

UNICEF representative Ramatou Toure expressed surprise at the speed of the developments: “Initially, we were seeing small groups, like around 50 a day. Then, on September 13, we encountered 1,000 people crossing.”

Toure highlighted the vulnerability of the situation, as many refugees arriving in Djibouti are exhausted and dehydrated, with numerous children suffering from severe malnutrition. Reports of conflicts over limited supplies of food and water have emerged from the refugee camps.

With the refugee numbers climbing, Toure indicated that UNICEF is preparing for the arrival of 10,000 people over the upcoming months. To support these efforts, her agency has asked for an additional $2.7 million in funding over the next three months to manage the escalating crisis.

The U.N. refugee agency, UNHCR, has noted that some refugees from Yemen have had to leave family members behind, while others have faced difficulties escaping due to insecurity and fuel shortages for boats.

UNHCR also pointed out the challenges in Djibouti, where the primary coastal refugee village, Markazi, was originally designed for 5,000 residents but has already been home to 2,700 Yemenis and 1,500 Eritreans prior to the recent influx.

With overcrowding, existing school facilities are struggling to accommodate newly arrived children, increasing the risks of communicable diseases like scabies and diarrhea. UNHCR has warned that its operations in Djibouti are only 15% funded, while efforts in Yemen are just 18% funded.