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Surge of Yemeni Refugees Reaches Djibouti as Houthi Forces Advance
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Rapid Influx of Yemeni Refugees into Djibouti
Within a 24-hour period, about 1,400 Yemeni refugees arrived in the Djiboutian port city of Obock, according to Djibouti’s minister of economy and finance Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh. The arrival included women and children rescued after their boats ran out of fuel while crossing the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. On September 12, 2026, Djibouti’s news agency reported that more than 500 of those refugees were rescued at sea off the Obock coast.
Context of the Houthi Coastal Offensive
The influx follows a rapid Houthi offensive along Yemen’s Red Sea coastline. The militia seized the port city of Mocha and tightened control of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a key maritime corridor for global shipping. The offensive has forced families from districts such as Maqbanah, Jabal Habashi and al-Maafer to flee, with some villages reportedly emptied.
Scale of Displacement
International Organization for Migration (IOM) figures show a sharply rising displacement total. One IOM estimate puts 46,000 people displaced in Yemen since the latest escalation, while another report cites 76,000 displaced since July, up from the earlier 46,000 figure.
Official Responses
IOM officials have repeatedly called for safe, unimpeded humanitarian access. Safiya Ibrahim, IOM’s humanitarian response coordinator, noted that vulnerable groups such as women and children have already reached Obock and that more arrivals are expected. Amy Pope, IOM director general, emphasized that families are being forced to flee repeatedly and that delivering lifesaving assistance is becoming increasingly difficult.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Families are being forced to flee for the second or third time in this conflict, with almost nothing left,” — Amy Pope, IOM director