Thousands of Yemenis have fled renewed conflict in their country by crossing the Red Sea to seek refuge in Djibouti, as fighting intensifies around key areas such as the port city of Mocha and the governorate capital Taiz. The escalation in violence since August has displaced at least 250,000 people and resulted in over 900 deaths, worsening an already dire humanitarian situation in Yemen.
Abubaker Saeed, a 50-year-old fisherman from the coastal village of al-Wahijah, described the sudden outbreak of hostilities last month when Saudi-led coalition airstrikes targeted the Iran-aligned Houthi militia near Mocha. The Houthis had advanced to within one kilometer of Saeed’s village, leading to intense clashes with government forces supported by coalition air power. After 12 hours of fighting that left several civilians dead, government troops withdrew, but the area fell under Houthi control, cutting off overland routes to safer parts of Yemen.
Unable to travel by land, Saeed decided to take his wife and young children across the Bab al-Mandab strait to Djibouti, a critical maritime corridor linking Yemen, Djibouti, and Eritrea. Boarding a boat carrying about 80 people, the family endured a nine-hour journey to reach Djibouti’s northeast coast. Saeed is now among thousands of Yemenis sheltering at the crowded Markazi refugee camp near Obock, where refugees from earlier phases of Yemen’s civil war also reside.
Madinah Abdullah, 43, fled Mocha after the Houthis seized the city from retreating government forces. She recounted life under frontline conditions marked by airstrikes and gunfire, as well as fears of forced recruitment of young men by Houthi forces. Together with seven family members, she escaped by boat to Djibouti. Similarly, Aisha Ismail, 33, left Dhubab north of Bab al-Mandab after enduring years of conflict that left her with a bullet wound in her leg. Without male protectors, she fled with her sister and elderly father, crossing on a crowded boat after a long trek.
Humanitarian agencies warn that ongoing insecurity, movement restrictions, and intensified fighting around Taiz have obstructed aid delivery to displaced populations. Laila Al Amine, regional programs director at Prosper Global, highlighted the urgent need for assistance, noting that over half of Yemen’s population requires humanitarian aid as the conflict erodes stability.
Djibouti’s government is hosting nearly 3,800 new Yemeni arrivals as of early October, stretching already limited shelter, water, sanitation, food, and healthcare resources. Madhi Osman, a coordinator for Djibouti’s refugee assistance office, emphasized the country’s solidarity despite constraints and called on the international community for support to ensure protection and essential services for those arriving.
The Yemeni civil war began in 2014 when the Houthis captured the capital Sana’a, prompting military intervention by a Saudi-led coalition aiming to restore the internationally recognized government. A UN-brokered ceasefire largely held until July, when renewed Houthi attacks on Saudi targets reignited hostilities. Since early September, the Houthis launched a rapid offensive along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, capturing strategic positions near Bab al-Mandab, a vital shipping lane that has gained greater significance amid broader regional tensions.
Despite their displacement, many refugees like Saeed remain hopeful for peace. Volunteering at the refugee camp’s water point, Saeed said his wish is for an end to the war so he can return home and live in safety with his family. Meanwhile, humanitarian actors warn that continued violence risks deepening Yemen’s humanitarian crisis and prolonging the suffering of millions caught in the conflict.