Dubai: More than 112,000 people have been displaced inside Yemen in the latest escalation of fighting along the country's western coast, while nearly 3,000 people have fled by sea to Djibouti, according to the latest figures from the United Nations migration agency.
The rapid displacement has followed a major Houthi advance along Yemen's Red Sea coast. Families have been forced to leave their homes as fighting intensifies, while thousands of people have taken dangerous sea routes to Djibouti in search of safety.
The latest figures show how quickly the humanitarian crisis has grown. The International Organization for Migration recorded about 101,208 newly displaced people between September 1 and September 15. This brought the cumulative number recorded since the latest escalation began in June to 104,796.
The largest number of displaced people was recorded in Taiz, where 63,624 people were forced from their homes during the reporting period. Lahj recorded another 26,364 displaced people, while thousands more were displaced in Al Hodeidah, Aden and Abyan.
The number has continued to rise since those figures were recorded. The latest IOM estimate cited on September 18 puts the number displaced inside Yemen at at least 112,000.
The fighting has also pushed thousands of people across the Bab el Mandeb Strait towards Djibouti. The UN refugee agency reported that more than 2,400 people had crossed to Djibouti in the four days to September 15. By September 16, Djiboutian authorities had registered 2,776 new arrivals along the country's northern coast.
Many of the new arrivals are being received in the Obock region. Women, children and older people make up a large share of those arriving. People reaching coastal landing points are being moved to reception facilities and the Markazi refugee site, where humanitarian agencies are providing assistance.
The sudden influx is placing additional pressure on Djibouti, a country with limited resources. UN agencies have warned that Markazi has space for about 5,000 additional refugees, while preparations are being made for the possibility that the number of new arrivals could reach 10,000.
Humanitarian conditions are also becoming more difficult inside Yemen. Roads have been damaged or blocked, communications have been disrupted and movement restrictions are making it harder for aid agencies to reach communities affected by the fighting.
Damage to the port of Al Makha has also affected humanitarian movement and logistics along the western coast.
The displacement comes as Houthi forces make significant territorial gains. The group seized the strategic Red Sea port city of Mocha on September 10 and captured Mayun Island, also known as Perim, the following day.
The Bab el Mandeb is a strategic waterway between Yemen and the Horn of Africa. It connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and is an important route for international shipping between Asia and Europe.
The Houthi advance has increased concerns about the security of the waterway. However, available UN reporting does not indicate that commercial shipping through the strait has been completely stopped.
Fighting has also been reported in other parts of Yemen, including Taiz, Lahj, Marib, Hajjah, Saada and Al Bayda, as forces aligned with Yemen's internationally recognised government respond to the Houthi advance.
Saudi Arabia and the Houthis also exchanged fresh attacks across their border on Thursday. Saudi authorities said debris from an intercepted Houthi drone killed a Yemeni resident in Taif province and injured two other people.
The civilian toll from the latest fighting remains unclear. The UN human rights office has separately verified eight civilian deaths and 32 civilian injuries between September 1 and September 14.
The latest displacement is taking place against the background of Yemen's long running conflict. Fighting has continued for more than a decade, although violence fell significantly after a UN brokered truce in 2022. The conflict, however, was not formally brought to an end.
Humanitarian agencies are now dealing with a new wave of displacement at a time when Yemen is already facing severe food insecurity, economic hardship and shortages of essential services.
The World Food Programme has said it has provided food assistance to tens of thousands of people affected by the latest fighting and is preparing to expand its response if the crisis worsens. Aid agencies have also warned that limited funding could restrict their ability to respond to the growing needs.
In Djibouti, authorities and humanitarian organisations are preparing for further arrivals as fighting continues along Yemen's western coast.
For thousands of families already displaced, the immediate challenge is finding safety, shelter, food and basic services as the conflict continues to reshape communities along the Red Sea coast.