Obock, Djibouti (HRNW)- Approximately 1,400 people arrived in Djibouti from Yemen within a 24-hour period following the advance and consolidation of control by Houthi fighters around the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
According to Al Jazeera and AFP, Djibouti’s Minister of Economy and Finance, Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh, said around 1,400 refugees arrived from Yemen in just 24 hours. A day earlier, 500 people had been rescued and brought to the coastal city of Obock after their boats ran out of fuel at sea.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that the arrivals include women and children, while further arrivals are expected in the coming days.
Obock, located approximately 20 kilometers across the sea from Yemen, has long served as a key destination for people fleeing the war-torn country. The IOM estimates that around 76,000 people have been displaced by the ongoing conflict in Yemen since July, with displacement accelerating amid the latest escalation.
The situation has intensified after Houthi forces captured the Red Sea port city of Mocha on Thursday and advanced toward coastal areas and islands surrounding the Bab al-Mandab Strait, forcing families in several areas to abandon their homes.
The Bab al-Mandab Strait is a strategically important maritime passage linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Rising tensions in the region have increased concerns over civilian displacement as well as the potential impact on international maritime trade.
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