Djibouti Receives Over 2,500 Yemen Refugees Amid Escalating Conflict

Djibouti’s northern coast has seen a surge of Yemen refugees, with more than 2,500 people arriving by 14 September. The influx included roughly 1,400 arrivals in a single 24‑hour period and an earlier group of about 500 rescued from fuel‑depleted vessels crossing the Bab al‑Mandeb Strait. Djiboutian authorities, backed by UN agencies and humanitarian partners, have set up reception, registration, and assistance operations in Obock, transferring newcomers to the Markazi site where the National Office for Assistance to Refugees and Disaster‑Stricken People (ONARS) leads registration and referral. The Coast Guard has conducted search and rescue missions, while UN partners provide food, water, and essential aid. Facing overstretched capacity, the government has activated an emergency response mechanism and intensified coordination, calling for increased donor support to meet the needs of arrivals and host communities.