Yemen Refugee Crisis: More Than 100,000 Displaced as Houthis Push Toward Bab el-Mandeb

The United Nations refugee agency states that the resumption of the conflict in Yemen has led to more than 100,000 people being displaced within the country, as Iran-linked Houthi forces are moving along Yemen’s western coast towards the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Additionally, thousands of Yemenis have crossed the Red Sea into Djibouti, placing further pressure on a humanitarian response which is already struggling with access and infrastructure problems.

The recent figures on displacement show a marked increase in the fighting, which has grown in intensity since early September.

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), 93,864 people have become newly displaced in Yemen, and the UNHCR stated that the number of people who have been internally displaced because of the resumption of the conflict has gone beyond 100,000.

The conflict has also caused several people to move across the Gulf of Aden. According to the IOM, over 2,000 Yemenis had reached Djibouti by Sept. 14, and Djibouti authorities have cautioned that further arrivals might place extra strain on the nation’s ability to offer shelter and assistance.

Houthi Offensive Reaches Yemen’s Western Coast

The latest escalation involved renewed fighting along the western coast of Yemen and in certain areas of Taiz and Al Hudaydah; on Sept. 7, the IOM stated that the resumption of hostilities had driven 18,500 people from their homes within 72 hours.

The Houthi forces captured the port city of Mocha on the Red Sea and moved on towards the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. They also seized Perim, or Mayun, Island, which is located near the southern entrance to the Red Sea. The advances have brought the Houthi forces closer to the strategically important maritime chokepoint.

The Strait of Bab el-Mandeb links the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and is an important route for international shipping between Europe, Asia and the Middle East; the recent advances by the Houthis therefore have caused concern regarding their possible effect on maritime trade and on the shipment of energy.

The United Nations has cautioned regarding the humanitarian effects of the territorial gains, including the dangers facing humanitarian workers, their facilities, and their ability to reach people affected by the fighting.

Thousands Flee to Djibouti

The resumption of the fighting has caused several Yemenis to leave the country.

By Sept.14, the International Organization for Migration reported that over 2,000 people had moved from Yemen to Djibouti. On Sept. 12, Djibouti’s Minister of Economy and Finance, Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh, stated that 1,400 refugees had arrived from Yemen within 24 hours.

On Sept.13, the country’s official news agency, the Agence Djiboutienne d’Information, stated that the number of Yemenis who had arrived in Djibouti had reached 3,400 within a period of 48 hours, the figure including more than 2,000 people who had been rescued off the coast of Obock.

Obock, which is on the northern coast of Djibouti, is situated about 20 kilometres (12 miles) from Yemen across the Bab el-Mandeb; because of its closeness, it is one of the principal entry points for Yemenis who are looking for safety through the Gulf of Aden.

IOM Director General Amy Pope said the latest displacement was forcing some families to flee repeatedly during Yemen’s prolonged conflict.

“Behind every number is a family who’s lost everything,” Pope said, “Many have been displaced multiple times. People are crossing the sea with nothing because they have no other choice left. Yemen is a country torn by poverty and conflict, and it cannot carry this crisis alone.”

The IOM has cautioned that women and children, together with other vulnerable groups, are among those arriving in Djibouti and has also requested that there should be safe and unrestricted humanitarian access as the fighting continues.

Displacement Deepens Humanitarian Pressure

The Taiz area has been one of the most affected by the incident; the IOM’s displacement tracking had identified districts such as Maqbanah and Jabal Habashi as areas where displacement was occurring.

The extent of the uprising follows on from years of conflict which have already left Yemen with a large number of internally displaced people and a weak humanitarian capacity.

UNHCR states that humanitarian access is still a major problem due to insecurity, the condition of the roads, disruptions to telecommunications and restrictions on movement.

Aisha Muhammad, a resident who had been displaced and who arrived in Taiz after having fled from the coast, told Reuters that she had left behind five of her children who were trapped in their homes.

“They are being blocked and shot at. Right now, they cannot reach us, and we cannot return to them. This is a trial from God,” she said.

Ahmad al-Masawi, director of the Al Salam displacement camp in Aden, said conditions for those arriving were deteriorating.

“The displaced people are in a very bad condition,” he said, appealing to international organizations for assistance.

Bab el-Mandeb Raises Wider Security Concerns

The Houthi movement’s advance towards Bab el-Mandeb has given Yemen’s humanitarian crisis a significant aspect relating to maritime security.

The strait is one of the world’s key shipping chokepoints, linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Its proximity to Mocha and Perim Island has made control of the area strategically important for the Houthis and their opponents.

The recent fighting has also been accompanied by fresh attacks by the Houthi rebels on Saudi Arabia. Houthi forces carried out missile and drone attacks on Saudi targets, one of which was a military base at Khamis Mushait, while at the same time Saudi and Yemeni forces increased their strikes on Houthi positions.

International shipping has already been affected by the escalation. The renewed conflict is disrupting maritime traffic and increasing concerns regarding regional energy supplies and trade.

Since over 100,000 people have been forced to leave their homes because of the renewed fighting and thousands more have gone to seek asylum in Djibouti, humanitarian organizations are under increasing pressure to provide shelter, food and medical aid while allowing access to the communities involved in the fighting.