Ibrahim Issa, 50, from the Yemeni coastal town of Dhubab, is currently at Markazi camp in Obock, northern Djibouti, where many Yemeni families have sought refuge after fleeing the ongoing conflict between Yemen's Houthis and Saudi-backed pro-government forces. The camp, managed by the government and the UN, has seen over 3,000 refugees arrive in just a few days, contributing to an estimated total of more than 120,000 displaced Yemenis due to recent fighting along Yemen's Red Sea coast.
Issa, who escaped on his fishing boat with his family and goats, expressed the urgency of their departure, stating, "How could I just sit there when my kids are screaming and shaking in terror?" The recent escalation in violence has led to increased airstrikes by Saudi Arabia and retaliatory attacks by the Houthis.
Djibouti, which is strategically located across the Bab al-Mandab Strait from Yemen, has not engaged in the conflict but hosts military bases from the US and China. Refugees at the camp, like Qassim Abraham Abssy, who is 100 years old, and Mohammed Abdullarim, a 63-year-old former tour guide, shared their experiences of fleeing the violence. Abdullarim has been in the camp since 2015 and expressed concern for the conditions faced by new arrivals.
The ongoing civil war in Yemen, which has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and millions displaced since 2014, has seen a breakdown of a UN-brokered truce established in 2022. Many refugees, including Aisha Abdulkadir Mohammed, express hope for peace and a return to their homeland, emphasizing the need for safety, food, water, and education for their children.