1,400 Yemenis flee to Djibouti within 24 hours | Refugees News
Yemeni Refugees Swell Numbers in Djibouti Amid Escalating Conflict
Obock, Djibouti – September 13, 2026
In the past 24 hours, approximately 1,400 Yemenis have sought refuge in Djibouti, as Houthi forces tighten their control over the strategically vital Bab al-Mandeb strait. Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh, Djibouti’s minister of economy and finance, announced the significant influx of refugees on X, revealing that 500 individuals arrived in the coastal city of Obock after needing rescue at sea due to fuel shortages.
Obock, situated about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the Yemeni coast, has long served as a primary entry point for those fleeing Yemen’s ongoing conflict. The region is also frequented by migrants from the Horn of Africa en route to Gulf states.
Safiya Ibrahim, humanitarian response coordinator for the International Organization for Migration (IOM), reported to AFP that women and children form a substantial portion of the vulnerable groups arriving in Obock, with more refugees expected soon.
The IOM has issued a stark warning regarding the humanitarian situation in Yemen, stating that at least 46,000 individuals have been displaced due to escalating violence in recent weeks. Amy Pope, IOM’s director general, highlighted the plight of families forced to flee multiple times amid the conflict. “With almost nothing left, reaching people with lifesaving assistance is becoming increasingly difficult. We urgently need safe, unimpeded access,” she said.
Djibouti already hosts tens of thousands of refugees and asylum seekers. As of March 2026, the United Nations Refugee Agency reported over 36,000 registered individuals, primarily from Somalia, Ethiopia, and Yemen.
The situation has escalated further as the Houthis captured the Red Sea port city of Mocha last Thursday, extending their control over the coastline and nearby islands of the Bab al-Mandeb strait. This rapid military advance has forced thousands to flee, leaving entire villages deserted in districts such as Maqbanah, Jabal Habashi, and al-Maafer.
