UN warns up to 10,000 Yemenis may flee to Djibouti amid renewed fighting
The UN has warned that renewed fighting in Yemen could cause up to 10,000 Yemenis to flee across the Red Sea to Djibouti in the coming months, while internal displacement in Yemen could rise to over 230,000. Djibouti, already hosting refugees, faces funding shortfalls for aid operations.
Brève Publié le (Africa/Lagos, UTC+1)
The United Nations warned on Tuesday that renewed fighting in Yemen could force up to 10,000 Yemenis to flee across the Red Sea to Djibouti in the near future.
Since early September, about 3,000 Yemenis have already risked the dangerous sea crossing to Djibouti, escaping intensified conflict at home. The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) anticipates this number could rise to 10,000 once sea conditions improve.
Meanwhile, internal displacement within Yemen has surged, with more than 130,000 people displaced due to the advance of Houthi rebels along the coast. The UN warns this figure could exceed 230,000, adding to the 5.2 million people already displaced by years of war.
Djibouti, a small African nation, is working to provide aid to the new arrivals, but UNHCR operations there are currently only 15 percent funded. The agency is appealing for over $13 million to maintain essential services and urgently needs $25 million to support displaced populations inside Yemen.