Yemen War Displaces Over 120,000 as Fleeing Families Seek Safety in Djibouti

The ongoing war between Yemen's Houthis and Saudi-backed forces has led to a massive exodus of refugees fleeing across the Red Sea to Djibouti. Ibrahim Issa, a 50-year-old fisherman from the coastal town of Dhubab, escaped with his family on his boat, bringing several goats for food along the way. The UN estimates that over 120,000 Yemenis have been displaced by the recent surge in fighting, with more than 3,000 arriving in Markazi camp in Obock, Djibouti, just in the past few days.

Markazi camp is a vast open-sided warehouse packed with families who have fled the war-torn region. The refugees have been forced to leave behind their homes and possessions, with some arriving in just the clothes they left with. Qassim Abraham Abssy, a 100-year-old fisherman, explained that it was the constant sound of planes bombing that made him flee.

Yemen has been wracked by civil war since 2014, killing tens of thousands and displacing millions. A shaky truce between the Houthis and Saudi-backed forces broke down in recent months, with both sides trading missiles, drones, and air strikes. The conflict has also had a significant impact on global oil exports, as the Bab al-Mandab strait is a critical maritime chokepoint.

For now, refugees like Ibrahim Issa are seeking safety in Djibouti, where they hope to wait out the war. However, many worry that if peace does not return to Yemen, they may never be able to go back home.