UN warns of rising Yemen displacement as thousands flee to Djibouti

Renewed fighting could drive 10,000 across the Red Sea and displace more than 230,000 internally, UNHCR says.

x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info People fleeing clashes between Houthis and Yemeni government forces gather to receive supplies from the International Organisation for Migration at the Markazi refugee camp after arriving in Djibouti on September 18, 2026 [Abdourahim Arteh/Reuters] By AFP Published On 22 Sep 2026 22 Sep 2026 The number of refugees fleeing Yemen across the Red Sea to Djibouti could reach 10,000 as result of renewed fighting in the country, while internal displacement inside Yemen could swell to more than 230,000, the United Nations has warned.

The Iran-aligned Houthi rebels seized control of Yemen’s Red Sea coastline earlier this month in a dramatic offensive that has left hundreds of people on both sides dead, threatened global trade, and pushed up energy prices.