Nearly 4,000 Yemeni refugees have arrived in Djibouti, straining resources in a drought-hit region. Most are children and women fleeing bombings in Yemen.
Refugee influx strains Djibouti's resources
In the north of Djibouti, the arrival of nearly 4,000 people who fled the fighting in Yemen by crossing the Red Sea is putting a severe strain on the resources of a population already affected by drought and food insecurity. Obock receives Yemeni refugees
The small coastal town of Obock, in the north of the country, has welcomed this influx of refugees from Yemen within a few days at the beginning of the escalation of the conflict a month ago, said Wednesday José Barahona, the United Nations resident coordinator in Djibouti, during a press briefing by videoconference with journalists in New York. Refugees fled bombings in Yemen
Most of these people fled the bombings that affected their areas, particularly around the port of Mokha, on the western coast of Yemen. "They had seen bombs falling on some houses, destroying them and killing people," reported the UN official, citing testimonies collected from the new arrivals. Refugee population includes many children
More than half of these refugees are children. The others are predominantly women. In response to this situation, the United Nations is calling on the international community to increase its support.
