Fuel shortage in Yemen hampers migrants fleeing conflict and seeking safety in Djibouti, tell me about this news in (https://www.wral.com/news/ap/0382b-fuel-shortage-in-yemen-hampers-migrants-fleeing-conflict-and-seeking-safety-in-djibouti/)
15-09-2026
A severe fuel shortage in Yemen is significantly restricting the movement of people attempting to escape escalating conflict and seek safety across the Red Sea in Djibouti.Key developments reported in the news include:
- Surge in Displacement: Following intensified clashes and military advances along Yemen’s coastal regions and near the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait, thousands of people have been forced to flee. More than 2,000 displaced individuals, including vulnerable groups such as women and children, have crossed the waterway to reach Djibouti’s northern shores in recent days.
- Impact of the Fuel Crisis: A acute shortage of fuel, paired with soaring fuel prices in Yemen, has severely crippled local transport. Displaced families face exorbitant transit costs, and boats attempting the sea crossing are either stranded or unable to operate regularly, leaving many trapped in conflict zones or along the coastline. The Houthi-run petroleum authorities have attributed the spike in local fuel costs to global oil price hikes, sanctions, and supply disruptions.
- Strain on Djibouti’s Resources: The influx has placed immense pressure on Djibouti, particularly the coastal town of Obock, which serves as the primary arrival and reception point. Djiboutian Finance Minister Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh stated that while the country remains dedicated to humanitarian solidarity with Yemeni refugees, the rapid arrivals are making the situation increasingly difficult to manage.
- Calls for International Assistance: The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and humanitarian agencies have warned that host communities and transit sites are becoming overwhelmed, issuing urgent appeals for increased international support, emergency shelter, and medical supplies to cope with the humanitarian fallout.