Yemenis flee across Red Sea as Houthis and Saudi-backed forces escalate war

September 21, 2026 at 07:14 PM2 min

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More than 3,000 Yemeni refugees have arrived in Djibouti in recent days, fleeing a Houthi advance along the Red Sea coast and hundreds of Saudi-led airstrikes. The UN estimates over 120,000 Yemenis have been displaced by the surge in fighting. Djibouti, which hosts the refugees at Markazi camp, has ruled out involvement in the conflict.

Key Facts

More than 3,000 Yemeni refugees arrived in Djibouti in recent days, according to camp officials.
The UN estimates over 120,000 Yemenis have been displaced by the fighting along the Red Sea coast.
Saudi Arabia has carried out hundreds of airstrikes on the coastal plain where Houthi forces are digging in.
The Houthis have launched hundreds of drones and missiles at cities and infrastructure in south-western Saudi Arabia.
Djibouti has stated it will not involve itself in the war between the Houthis and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government.

Refugee Arrivals

Ibrahim Issa, a 50-year-old fisherman from Dhubab, fled with his family and several goats on his fishing boat across the Bab al-Mandab strait. He described his children screaming and shaking in terror at the sound of planes, which prompted the family's escape. Some families arrived at Markazi camp with small bundles of possessions, while others came exhausted in only the clothes they were wearing. The camp, jointly administered by the Djiboutian government and the UN, is packed with Yemeni families who crossed by boat and then travelled by truck and on foot.

Military Escalation

This month, the Houthis made a rapid advance down the coast towards Bab al-Mandab, the chokepoint between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Saudi Arabia, which backs the internationally recognised Yemeni government, responded with hundreds of airstrikes along the coastal plain. The Houthis have also launched hundreds of drones and missiles at south-western Saudi Arabia. Refugees in Djibouti said they did not care which side was attacking, only that bombs were falling around them.

Djibouti's Position

Djibouti, a former French colony across the water from Yemen, has made clear it has no intention of involving itself in the war. Despite its neutrality, Djibouti is one of the most militarised nations in Africa.