DJIBOUTI (HT): Around 1,400 Yemenis reportedly reached Djibouti within 24 hours after fleeing renewed fighting, creating additional humanitarian and security pressure on the small Horn of Africa country.
The arrivals crossed the Bab al-Mandeb Strait as conflict and Houthi military activity intensified in Yemen. The International Organization for Migration has reported that nearly 76,000 people have been displaced inside Yemen since July.
Djibouti already hosts more than 36,000 refugees and asylum seekers, including people from Yemen, Somalia and Ethiopia. The latest arrivals are expected to increase demand for accommodation, food, healthcare and other essential services.
The influx also demonstrates how Yemen’s conflict is spilling directly into East Africa. Continued instability could increase migration, maritime-security threats and shipping costs for Djibouti, Somalia and other coastal states.
