Houthis try to push deeper into western Yemen, upending life, witnesses tell NPR

Live updates

1. 1h ago

   Houthis Advance in Western Yemen as Refugees Flee to Djibouti

   Houthi forces are attempting to push deeper into western Yemen, disrupting local life and fueling a surge in displacement. Thousands of Yemenis are fleeing across the Red Sea to Djibouti to escape escalating combat between the Houthis and Saudi-backed forces. The United Nations and UNHCR warn that this upsurge in fighting will likely drive more refugees from their homes. Among those arriving in Djibouti are pregnant women seeking medical care and safety from the intensifying conflict.

   Why it matters

   The war in Yemen involves a struggle for territorial control between Houthi rebels and forces supported by Saudi Arabia. This latest escalation in the west threatens to destabilize remaining stable zones and increase the humanitarian burden on neighboring Djibouti.

   What is confirmed

   • Thousands of Yemenis are fleeing to Djibouti.
   • Fighting has escalated between Houthi and Saudi-backed forces.
   • The UN and UNHCR expect the upsurge in fighting to fuel more displacement.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Houthis are trying to push deeper into western Yemen, upending life.

   What to watch next

   • Official responses from Saudi-backed forces regarding the Houthi advance in the west.
   Sources used for this update (6)

   1. BBC — Yemenis flee across Red Sea as Houthis and Saudi-backed forces escalate war
   2. thenationalnews.com — Desperate and afraid: The pregnant Yemeni refugees giving birth in Djibouti
   3. Reuters — More Yemenis expected to flee from upsurge in fighting, UN says
   4. Al Jazeera — UN warns of rising Yemen displacement as thousands flee to Djibouti
   5. NPR — Houthis try to push deeper into western Yemen, upending life, witnesses tell NPR
   6. unhcr.org — Escalating conflict in Yemen could fuel more displacement, refugee movement
   confidence 85%