Djibouti Requests Immediate Assistance from the International Community for Yemeni Refugees

Djibouti is reaching out to the international community for urgent assistance to cope with the increasing number of Yemeni refugees entering the country. This request comes in light of a sharp rise in the number of migrants to Djibouti, which has now exceeded 2,500.

Increase in Yemeni Refugees

Omar Abdi Saeed, the Minister of Interior of Djibouti, stated in a statement that since last Thursday, over 2,500 Yemenis have entered Djibouti, and it is anticipated that this number will rise to around 10,000 in the coming weeks. He warned that the pressure on Djibouti's national resources has significantly increased, and the country is currently facing major challenges in meeting the needs of the refugees.

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Saeed added: "The influx of migrants into Djibouti has exceeded our national capacity, and we are facing increasing pressure, while international financial resources are also declining. We urge the United Nations and our international partners to mobilize immediate financial resources commensurate with the scale of this crisis."

Severe Humanitarian Conditions in Yemen

Currently, there are intense clashes between Iranian-backed Houthis and the internationally recognized government supported by Saudi Arabia in Yemen. This humanitarian crisis in Yemen, the poorest country in the Middle East, has severely strained conditions for millions. Since 2015, over 4.5 million people in Yemen have been displaced due to the civil war.

The recent increase in fighting has raised concerns about further internal displacement and the likelihood of more Yemenis fleeing the country. Djibouti, located across the Red Sea from Yemen, has served as a safe haven for thousands of Yemenis seeking asylum.

The International Organization for Migration office in Djibouti has also announced that its staff and local officials are providing food and water services to Yemenis entering the country. Safia Ibrahim, the organization's response coordinator for Djibouti, warned that many of these refugees include women, children, infants, and sick individuals arriving daily in Djibouti, adding that the organization "needs additional financial support" to continue its operations.

Djibouti, the third smallest country in Africa, with a population of less than 1.2 million, faces significant challenges in meeting the needs of refugees. The current crisis could have serious implications for this country and the region, especially as international financial resources are declining and pressure on Djibouti's infrastructure is increasing.

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