Fleeing the frontline: Yemeni families cross Red Sea to Djibouti as Houthi conflict rages

Their overland routes to safety blocked off, several thousand people have boarded boats to escape gunfire, bombing and a dire humanitarian situation Abubaker Saeed was fishing in the Red Sea off Yemen’s coast last month when he noticed explosions in the distance.

His mind turned immediately to his wife and two children, and he raced back to his home village of al-Wahijah.

Aircraft from the Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemeni government forces had launched airstrikes in surrounding areas, targeting members of the Iran-aligned Houthi militia as its fighters approached the nearby port city of Mocha.

Continue reading...