Yemenis Flee By Boat As War Spreads Across Middle East
Thousands of Yemenis are fleeing escalating violence by boat to Djibouti as Houthi and Saudi-backed forces clash amid the wider Middle East war.
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Sana’a: Thousands of Yemenis are fleeing increased violence by boat across the Red Sea to Djibouti, as the confrontation between Iran-backed Houthi troops and Saudi-backed forces adds a new front to the larger Middle East war.
According to the UN refugee agency, the current violence has displaced over 100,000 people within Yemen, with thousands more crossing the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in search of shelter. The Houthi offensive has quickly spread throughout Yemen's western coastline, forcing families to flee their homes with little warning.
By September 16, more than 2,500 Yemenis had arrived in Djibouti, with authorities warning that the figure may reach 10,000 in the coming weeks. Crowded wooden dhows, fishing boats, and bigger vessels have transported women, children, and the elderly across the tiny but dangerous waterway.
Travel itself posed new dangers. Some boats ran out of fuel while crossing, and others are unable to leave due to fuel constraints inside Yemen. Aid agencies have also cautioned that anybody making the journey may suffer high heat, dehydration, and a lack of adequate drinking water.
The escalation has sparked widespread worry since the Houthis have seized significant area along the Red Sea coast and moved closer to the Bab el-Mandeb, a vital global shipping route. Djibouti, meanwhile, says the rapid inflow is already putting a strain on its limited humanitarian resources as it prepares for further arrivals.
