Djibouti calls for assistance as thousands of Yemenis flee to country
More than 2,500 Yemenis have arrived since last week, with Djibouti warning the number could rise to 10,000.
Djibouti is calling on the international community to urgently provide assistance to help deal with the rising number of Yemenis fleeing to the country, warning that the figure already exceeds national capacity.
More than 2,500 Yemenis have arrived in Djibouti since Thursday last week, according to Interior Minister Omar Abdi Said.
“We expect the number of displaced people to rise to about 10,000 in the coming weeks,” Said said on Wednesday.
Heavy fighting is under way in western Yemen between the Iran-backed Houthis and the internationally recognised government, backed by Saudi Arabia. Thousands of Yemenis have sought safety in Djibouti, which lies directly opposite Yemen across the Red Sea.