Djibouti and the UN have asked their international partners for help in responding to the arrival of more than 2,700 refugees from the conflict in Yemen since last week, the international press today reported.
© AHMAD AL-BASHA / AFP via Getty Images
17/09/2026
by
Lusa
“ From the beginning of the recent escalation of the conflict in Yemen and until the launch of this appeal, more than 2,776 people had arrived in the Obock region until September 16. This number continues to increase with the arrival of new refugees,” said the Djibouti Government and the UN in a joint statement, quoted today by the EFE news agency.
According to the note, published on Wednesday night by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Djibouti, “reception and registration operations continue to be carried out to identify the needs and forward people to adequate assistance”.
However, the rapid flow of refugees exerts a “significant pressure” on the capacity existing in the Obock region (north) and Markazi camp, located near the city of Obock.
“Djibouti maintains its firm commitment to welcoming and protecting those who were forced to flee the conflict. Given the rapid development of needs, international solidarity is essential to support the efforts of the country and host communities,” said Djibouti Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Abdoulkader Houssein Omar.
Thus, the Djibouti Government and the UN urged partners and donors to increase their support for “satisfying immediate needs and expanding reception and assistance capacity”.
Priorities include housing, water and sanitation, food assistance, health, protection, first-need articles and logistical capacity, while ensuring support for host communities.
Djibouti already hosts a significant population of refugees and asylum seekers. According to data from the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) of March 2026, more than 36,000 registered refugees and asylum seekers from Somalia, Ethiopia and Yemen resided in the country.
In the last week, the Huthis rebels – pro-Iranian group – made important advances on the Yemeni coast of the Red Sea and controlled the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vitally important commercial maritime route that gained even more relevance after the blockade of the Ormuz Strait due to Iran's war.