Yemen war escalates: 1.12 lakh displaced, thousands flee to Djibouti

The escalating conflict in Yemen has displaced at least 1.12 lakh people inside the country in the past two weeks, while thousands have fled across the Gulf of Aden to Djibouti, according to the United Nations.Nearly 3,000 people have reached Djibouti in less than a week, as renewed fighting between Iran-aligned Houthi forces and Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces pushes more families to flee, Sandrine Desamours, the UN refugee agency's representative in Djibouti, told Reuters.Djibouti's government is preparing for the arrival of as many as 10,000 refugees, Desamours said, warning that such an influx could place acute pressure on the country's healthcare and education systems.According to the UN International Organisation for Migration (IOM), many people are making the perilous journey aboard overcrowded boats, arriving with little food or water. Most are Yemeni families seeking refuge in Djibouti, although the IOM has also recorded a smaller number of migrants, mainly from Ethiopia, travelling towards the country.The UN refugee agency has also reported increased arrivals from Yemen in Somaliland and Puntland. Those arrivals include Yemeni refugees as well as Somali refugees returning to the region, although their numbers remain in the hundreds.Houthi offensive expandsThe latest escalation comes as the Iran-aligned Houthis have intensified attacks on southern Saudi Arabia and its energy infrastructure, while expanding their territorial gains along Yemen's Red Sea coast towards the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, one of the world's key maritime chokepoints. Saudi Arabia and forces backing Yemen's internationally recognised government have responded with airstrikes on Houthi positions.The Houthis have made significant gains along the Red Sea coast, including the capture of the strategic port city of Mokha and advances towards the Bab el-Mandeb. The group also reached the strategic Perim Island in the strait earlier this month.The renewed fighting is adding another layer to Yemen's already devastating humanitarian crisis. The country has been ravaged by years of civil war between the Houthis and forces backing the internationally recognised government, leaving its economy, healthcare system and basic infrastructure severely weakened.The battle for Yemen's western coast also carries significance beyond the country. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and is a critical route for global shipping and energy supplies. Greater Houthi control of the area could give Iran-aligned forces additional leverage over a vital maritime corridor, particularly amid the wider US-Iran conflict and disruption around the Strait of Hormuz.Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.