Djibouti Appeals for International Support as Yemeni Refugee Arrivals Surge

Djibouti Appeals for International Support as Yemeni Refugee Arrivals Surge
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Djibouti has called for greater international assistance as a growing number of Yemenis flee renewed conflict across the Red Sea, warning that the humanitarian pressure is stretching the country’s resources.

Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, Djibouti’s foreign minister said the country cannot manage the influx of refugees alone and urged the international community to help provide shelter, food, healthcare and other essential services for those arriving from Yemen.

The appeal comes after thousands of Yemenis crossed the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to seek safety in Djibouti amid escalating violence. The UN refugee agency reported that nearly 3,000 people arrived in Djibouti within less than a week, with many fleeing fighting along Yemen’s western coast.

Humanitarian agencies have warned that local capacities are under increasing strain, as receiving communities and refugee sites face growing demands for basic services. The UN has also cautioned that further displacement could occur if fighting continues to intensify.

Djibouti also highlighted the strategic importance of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a major international shipping route linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, warning that instability in the area could affect regional security, trade and global energy supplies.