112,000 displaced inside Yemen, thousands flee to Djibouti

A UN agency announced the displacement of at least 112,000 people inside Yemen over the past two weeks, as fighting continues on the western coast, while nearly 3,000 people fled by sea to Djibouti in less than a week to escape escalating violence.

A UN agency announced the displacement of at least 112,000 people inside Yemen over the past two weeks, as fighting continues on the western coast. Nearly 3,000 people also fled by sea to Djibouti in less than a week, escaping escalating violence. Sandrina Dizamour, a representative of the UN Refugee Agency, said about 3,000 people crossed the Gulf of Aden to Djibouti, noting that the escalation of violence has driven more families to flee. She added that the Djiboutian government is preparing to receive up to 10,000 refugees, increasing pressure on healthcare and education services. Meanwhile, the International Organization for Migration said the fleeing people arrive on overcrowded boats with very limited food and water, explaining that most arrivals are Yemeni families seeking refuge in Djibouti. The UN agency also reported that authorities in Somaliland and Puntland have recorded an increase in arrivals from Yemen, including Yemeni refugees and returning Somalis. UN agencies described the developments as a new crisis adding to the accumulated humanitarian crises in Yemen, where the economy and health services have severely deteriorated due to the ongoing civil war between Saudi-backed government forces and the Houthi group.