Press Release: Crisis for refugees in Yemen
Published Sept. 27, 2026, 4:50 a.m. by FNN
Within the last 24 hours, refugee representatives among Oromo communities have reported on the life-threatening deterioration in the humanitarian and security situation for refugees in Yemen and the hardship faced by those arriving in Djibouti.
The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, reported last year that Yemen was one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world, with about half of its 43 million population in need of assistance.[1] That was before the recent eruption of violence between the official government and Houthi insurgents who are in control of north Yemen, including the capital Sana’a.
The Saudi bombing campaign in July and the lightning advance by Houthi fighters from 4-10 September southward, taking control of Mokha and the Bab al-Mandeb strait,[2] have displaced another 128,000 people – in addition to the 5.2 million already internally displaced.[3]
The Oromia Refugee Network issued a Press Release on 18 September, highlighting the plight of 2,000 refugees in al Kharaz camp, which was surrounded by Houthi fighters.[4]
UNHCR closed down its office in Sana’a in December 2025 and since then the agency, which had been limping along with less than one fifth of its planned budget, has ceased all assistance for refugees. Refugees in Sana’a and al Kharaz are destitute, unable to work or access education and their youngsters are preyed upon for forced conscription.
Over 3,600 had fled Yemen for Djibouti by 18 September, 60% of whom were women and children, figures which have been confirmed by refugees reporting from Djibouti. Many more are expected to cross the sea to Djibouti as the weather improves in October.
Dr Trevor Trueman, Chair, OSG
Similar posts:
Ethiopian government's aerial attack kills hundreds of Oromo civilians
OSG Report 74: New Human Rights Report Documents Continued Killings, Forced Conscription and Displacement in Oromia
OSG: Ethiopian Government Responsible for Over 7,700 Oromo Civilian Deaths in Eight Years
Operation Egeree Oromia: A Turning Point in Oromo's Struggle?