Gaza Herald – A United Nations agency stated on Friday that at least 112,000 individuals have been internally displaced within Yemen during the last two weeks. This surge in displacement coincides with continued combat operations along the country’s western coastline.
Simultaneously, approximately three thousand people have fled by sea to reach Djibouti. The Houthi forces in Yemen, who are aligned with Iran, have intensified their attacks against Saudi cities and energy infrastructure. These groups are also advancing along the Red Sea coast toward the Bab al-Mandab strait, a critical maritime passage.
In response to these assaults, the Saudi and Yemeni air forces have conducted airstrikes targeting Houthi positions. Sandrine Dessimoz, representing the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, addressed journalists in Geneva via a video link from Djibouti regarding the situation.
She informed reporters that around three thousand individuals crossed the Gulf of Aden to reach Djibouti in the Horn of Africa in less than a week. This movement was driven by escalating violence that forced numerous families to seek safety elsewhere.
Dessimoz added that the Djiboutian government is preparing to receive up to ten thousand refugees. This influx is expected to increase pressure on the nation’s healthcare and educational services, which are already under strain.
The UN International Organization for Migration noted that people are fleeing on overcrowded boats. Many arrive with very limited amounts of food and water. Most of those escaping are Yemeni families seeking asylum in Djibouti.
The organization has also begun tracking a small number of migrants, mostly from Ethiopia, moving in the same direction. UN agencies described the latest fighting as another crisis adding to existing emergencies in the region.
Reports indicate a severe deterioration of Yemen’s economy and health services due to a prolonged civil war. This conflict involves government forces backed by Saudi Arabia and the Houthi movement, resulting in one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises.
The Houthi advance on the Red Sea coast strengthens Iran’s position in its struggle with the United States. The group controls the strategic Bab al-Mandab waterway, vital for global oil and goods shipping, more than six months after the start of the US-Israeli war on the Islamic Republic.
This report was produced in the Gaza Herald newsroom.
