Yemeni refugee crisis: Djibouti calls for assistance

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, September 17, 2026

Djibouti has called for urgent international aid after more than 2,500 Yemeni refugees crossed its borders last week, overwhelming the country’s capacity to provide assistance. The surge, driven by intensified fighting in Yemen, threatens to escalate regional humanitarian challenges as Djibouti braces for potentially 10,000 arrivals in the coming weeks.

Djibouti has urged the international community to provide urgent support as it grapples with a growing influx of Yemeni refugees that has surpassed the country’s capacity to respond effectively. Since last Thursday, more than 2,500 Yemenis have crossed into Djibouti, with authorities anticipating the number could reach 10,000 in the coming weeks.

Interior Minister Omar Abdi Said highlighted the strain on national resources, attributing the situation to renewed heavy fighting in western Yemen between Iran-backed Houthi forces and the internationally recognised government supported by Saudi Arabia. The conflict, intensifying in recent days, has driven thousands to seek safety across the Red Sea in Djibouti.

“The influx of migrants has already exceeded our national capacity, and we are facing increasing pressure as international funding declines,” Said said on Wednesday. He called on the United Nations and global partners to mobilise financial aid proportional to the scale of the crisis, emphasizing the urgent need to bolster humanitarian operations.

The fighting has exacerbated Yemen’s already dire humanitarian conditions. Since the start of the Saudi-led coalition’s intervention in 2015, over 4.5 million Yemenis have been displaced internally. The latest escalation risks further displacements within Yemen and increased cross-border movements to neighbouring countries like Djibouti.

Djibouti, one of Africa’s smallest countries with a population under 1.2 million, lies directly across the Red Sea from Yemen and has become a critical entry point for those fleeing conflict. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) office in Djibouti reported that its staff, along with local authorities, are actively distributing food and water to newly arriving refugees.

Safiya Ibrahim, the IOM’s response coordinator for Djibouti, noted the daily arrival of vulnerable groups including women, children, infants, and the sick. She stressed the organisation’s reliance on additional funding to sustain its relief work amid growing needs.

As the situation evolves, Djibouti’s appeal for heightened international assistance underscores rising concerns over regional humanitarian stability and the challenges faced by smaller nations hosting displaced populations from Yemen’s protracted conflict.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.