By Bakar Osman - Reporter
Djibouti, 16 Septembe 2026 More than 2,400 people have crossed the sea from Yemen to Djibouti over the past four days as intense fighting along Yemen's western coast displaced more than 100,000 people inside the country, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has warned.
UNHCR said the fighting has affected families across the governorates of Al Hodeidah, Ta’iz, Lahj, Aden, Abyan, Marib, Al Dhaleh and Shabwah. Many families were forced to flee their homes at short notice, unable to take many of their belongings with them.
The arrivals from Yemen landed mainly through the towns of Obock, Khor Angar, Moulhoule and Godoria, with more than 60 percent being women, children and older people.
UNHCR said the people arriving from Yemen are refugees fleeing conflict and insecurity and seeking international protection. The agency is also monitoring the possibility of further movements toward Somalia, with contingency plans being prepared should additional arrivals occur.
Djibouti is receiving the new arrivals at coastal reception points, while UNHCR and the Djiboutian government are working together on their registration.
Related articles
The agency said the most urgent needs for displaced families inside Yemen include shelter, food, clean water and healthcare, as displacement sites and host communities come under increasing pressure.
UNHCR said the Markazi refugee camp currently has capacity for around 5,000 additional refugees, while the agency is preparing for more than 10,000 possible arrivals. It also warned that water, shelter and education services in Djibouti could quickly come under further pressure.
The tensions around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait have also raised concerns over their potential impact on humanitarian and commercial shipping in the region. UNHCR said that if the situation deteriorates further, some vessels could be forced to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope, located at the southwestern tip of South Africa, potentially adding 25 to 30 days to shipping times.
UNHCR said it requires approximately $14 million to address the immediate needs of displaced families inside Yemen, while additional support is needed in Djibouti to continue providing services to people fleeing Yemen.