Yemen: Thousands Flee War to Djibouti
The war in Yemen has once again pushed thousands of civilians onto the roads and to the sea, with a direct consequence for Djibouti. The International Organization for Migration recorded 85.818 displaced people in the country on Sunday, of which 82.164 have been displaced since the beginning of September.
More than 2.000 people have crossed the waters between Yemen and Djibouti, arriving at scattered points along the northern coast near Obock. UNICEF recorded approximately 1.400 arrivals in 24 hours and warned that women and children are facing dehydration, extreme heat, and lack of water during the crossing.
Pressure increased after the Houthi group's rapid advance along the western coast. The group seized Mokha and announced on Monday the capture of the islands of Big Hanish and Little Hanish in the southern Red Sea. The offensive brought Houthi forces closer to Bab el-Mandeb and increased their ability to threaten maritime traffic.
The strait separates Yemen from Djibouti and Eritrea and forms the southern entrance to the Red Sea. Commercial ships continued to pass through the passage on Monday. The crisis now combines human displacement, military pressure, and increased risk to a vital route for world trade.
Escape Through the Strait
The displacement is concentrated in areas affected by fighting on the country's west coast. According to the IOM, Taiz is the most affected province, with approximately 56,000 displaced people. Lahj exceeds 19,000 and Hodeidah has more than 8,000. Aden has also received more than 2.500 people, many of whom have been displaced for the second or third time during years of conflict.
For some families, the escape did not end within Yemen. Boats headed towards Djibouti and landed near Obock, where authorities mobilized the Navy, security forces, and health services. The newcomers, including women and young children, were taken to Markazi, where they receive water, food, and basic assistance with support from the United Nations.
The crossing takes place along a corridor that also serves, in the opposite direction, thousands of migrants from the Horn of Africa seeking to reach the Arabian Peninsula. The new departure of Yemeni civilians temporarily alters this movement and puts greater pressure on Obock, a town that already plays a central role in the migratory routes between East Africa and Yemen.
At the same time, the military advance is altering the balance of power along the strait. The capture of Mokha and the Hanish Islands increases the Houthi presence near the main shipping routes in the southern Red Sea. The new positions strengthen the group's ability to exert pressure on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, although commercial traffic continues to operate through the waterway.
Commercial ships continued to use the strait on Monday despite Houthi threats against Saudi vessels. A wider disruption would force carriers to revert to the Cape of Good Hope route, with longer journeys, higher shipping costs, and increased pressure on ports and supply chains in Africa.
Conclusion
More than 2.000 people have reached Djibouti, and humanitarian agencies anticipate further arrivals as long as the fighting continues. The Djiboutian government is facing an emergency that combines shelter, assistance at sea, and support for families who crossed the strait with few belongings.
In Yemen, the IOM considers the situation volatile and warns of increasing difficulties in accessing affected populations. Roads have been hampered by clashes and communications have been interrupted in some areas, making it difficult to assess needs and send humanitarian aid.
In Bab el-Mandeb, commercial shipping remains active, but the military geography has changed. The Houthi advance on the coast and nearby islands is increasing pressure on a crucial link between the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, and the Mediterranean. For Djibouti, this pressure has gone beyond mere strategic considerations and has reached the beaches in boats carrying fleeing civilians.
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Picture: © 2026 Mohammed Huwais / AFP
