At least 112,000 people have been displaced within Yemen in the past two weeks as renewed fighting deepens the country’s humanitarian crisis, according to the United Nations migration agency.
Reuters reports that nearly 3,000 people have also fled Yemen by sea to neighbouring Djibouti in recent days, as civilians seek safety from escalating violence along the country’s Red Sea coast.
The latest fighting involves Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi forces, which have intensified attacks on Saudi cities and energy infrastructure while making territorial gains in areas close to the strategically important Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Saudi and Yemeni forces have responded with airstrikes targeting Houthi positions as the confrontation continues.
The renewed violence has forced families to abandon their homes, with some reportedly making dangerous journeys across the Gulf of Aden in overcrowded boats and with limited access to food and water.
Djibouti is reportedly preparing for the possible arrival of as many as 10,000 refugees, raising concerns about additional pressure on the country’s healthcare, education and humanitarian services.
People fleeing Yemen have also reportedly arrived in Somaliland and Puntland.
The latest displacement comes as Yemen continues to struggle with the consequences of a conflict that has damaged infrastructure, disrupted public services and left millions of people dependent on humanitarian assistance.
The situation around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait is also attracting international attention because the narrow waterway is a major route for global shipping between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Recent territorial gains by Houthi forces along Yemen’s western coast have raised further concerns about the security of commercial shipping and energy supplies in the region.
Humanitarian agencies are calling for greater assistance for displaced families as fighting continues and the number of people seeking safety increases.
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