May 30, 2015

OBOCK, Djibouti – Fleeing the war at home, thousands of Yemenis have made it across the Gulf of Aden to find refuge in Djibouti, a sleepy Horn of Africa nation where the United Nations has set up a staging hub for aid for the conflict-torn Arab country.

Many of the refugees are relieved to have escaped after two months of Saudi-led airstrikes targeting Yemen’s Shiite rebels and fighting on the ground between rival factions that have pushed their country to the brink of collapse.

They arrived with just the few belongings they could carry, mostly on small, rickety fishing boats. Others came on bigger vessels crammed with people, reversing a perilous, centuries-old route which countless African migrants have taken in the other direction.

The UNHCR says a total of 5,000 Yemeni refugees have made it to Djibouti, including 3,000 in the capital, Djibouti city, and 1,000 in Obock, 300 kilometers (187 miles) to the north — making it currently the biggest Yemeni refugee population.

The influx has hiked up local prices, with markets, hotels, and drivers trying to make the most of the situation in an already struggling economy.

“We are overwhelming this country, but we have nowhere else to go,” said Amin Nasser, a 45-year-old teacher from the Yemeni capital, Sanaa.

: A Yemeni refugee walks at the yard of an orphanage that has been turned into a center for Yemeni refugees, in Obock, northern Djibouti. The Al-Rahma orphanage has become home to about 100 families, mostly from the Yemeni town of Bab Al-Mandab just a 30-minute boat trip from Obock. (AP Photo/Mosa’ab Elshamy)

: Yemeni refugees listen to the news on the radio outside their room at an orphanage that has been turned into a center for Yemeni refugees,in Obock, northern Djibouti. There are no doors or windows on the tiny buildings of the orphanage and the Yemenis have put up curtains between the rooms for privacy. They spend the day mostly hanging out around the well in the yard but they say itís still better than the UNHCR-run Markaze camp about 300 tents in the open desert. (AP Photo/Mosa’ab Elshamy)

: Yemeni refugee trek from their camp to the center of Obock city, northern Djibouti. The UNHCR says a total of 5,000 Yemeni refugees have made it to Djibouti, including 3,000 in the capital, Djibouti city, and 1,000 in Obock, 300 kilometers (187 miles) to the north making it currently the biggest Yemeni refugee population. (AP Photo/Mosa’ab Elshamy)

: A Yemeni refugee walks at an orphanage that has been turned into a center for Yemeni refugees, in Obock, northern Djibouti. The UNHCR says a total of 5,000 Yemeni refugees have made it to Djibouti, including 3,000 in the capital, Djibouti city, and 1,000 in Obock, 300 kilometers (187 miles) to the north making it currently the biggest Yemeni refugee population. (AP Photo/Mosa’ab Elshamy)

: Ibrahim Omar, 45, right, and his children, Aseya, 3, Heyam, 6, Maryam, 10, and 1-year-old Saeed, pose for a photo as they stand next to their father in their room, at an orphanage that has been turned into a center for Yemeni refugees, in Obock, northern Djibouti. In Obock, the Al-Rahma orphanage has become home to about 100 families, mostly from the Yemeni town of Bab Al-Mandab just a 30-minute boat trip from Obock. (AP Photo/Mosa’ab Elshamy)

: Ibrahim Mohamed, 80, and the oldest refugee at the center, who is both blind and deaf, adjusts his hat, at an orphanage that has been turned into a center for Yemeni refugees, in Obock, northern Djibouti. Fleeing the war at home, thousands of Yemenis have made it across the Gulf of Aden to find refuge in Djibouti, a sleepy Horn of Africa nation where the United Nations has set up a staging hub for aid for the conflict-torn Arab country. (AP Photo/Mosa’ab Elshamy)

: A Yemeni refugee walks on her way to the Markaze refugee camp where Yemeni refugees are stationed, in Obock, northern Djibouti. Fleeing the war at home, thousands of Yemenis have made it across the Gulf of Aden to find refuge in Djibouti, a sleepy Horn of Africa nation where the United Nations has set up a staging hub for aid for the conflict-torn Arab country. (AP Photo/Mosa’ab Elshamy)

: Yemeni refugees play football outside the Markaze refugee camp where Yemeni refugees are stationed, in Obock, northern Djibouti. Many of the refugees are relieved to have escaped after two months of Saudi-led airstrikes targeting Yemenís Shiite rebels and fighting on the ground between rival factions that have pushed their country to the brink of collapse. (AP Photo/Mosa’ab Elshamy)

: Yemeni refugees chat at the end of the day outside the Markaze refugee camp where Yemeni refugees are stationed, in Obock, northern Djibouti. Many of the refugees arrived with just the few belongings they could carry, mostly on small rickety fishing boats, others on bigger vessels crammed with people, reversing a centuries-old perilous route that has seen countless African migrants take to the seas in the other direction. (AP Photo/Mosa’ab Elshamy)

: Yemeni refugee children play outside their rooms at an orphanage that has been turned into a center for Yemeni refugees, in Obock, northern Djibouti. The UNHCR says a total of 5,000 Yemeni refugees have made it to Djibouti, including 3,000 in the capital, Djibouti city, and 1,000 in Obock, 300 kilometers (187 miles) to the north making it currently the biggest Yemeni refugee population. (AP Photo/Mosa’ab Elshamy)

: Yemeni refugees gesture trying to hitchhike a ride from their camp to the center of Obock city, to the nearest shop, northern Djibouti. (AP Photo/Mosa’ab Elshamy)

: Ashwaq, 12, stands outside her family’s tent, at the Markaze refugee camp in Obock, northern Djibouti. (AP Photo/Mosa’ab Elshamy)

: A Yemeni refugee collects a meal for his family, at an orphanage that has been turned into a center for Yemeni refugees,in Obock, northern Djibouti. (AP Photo/Mosa’ab Elshamy)

: Newly-arrived Yemeni refugees wait at the Obock port in northern Djibouti. Many of the refugees arrived with just the few belongings they could carry, mostly on small rickety fishing boats, others on bigger vessels crammed with people, reversing a centuries-old perilous route that has seen countless African migrants take to the seas in the other direction. (AP Photo/Mosa’ab Elshamy)

: Pigeons fly over the Markaze refugee camp where Yemeni refugees are stationed in Obock, Djibouti. Many of the refugees are relieved to have escaped after two months of Saudi-led airstrikes targeting Yemenís Shiite rebels and fighting on the ground between rival factions that have pushed their country to the brink of collapse. (AP Photo/Mosa’ab Elshamy)

: Aseya, 3, poses for a photo in her family’s room in at an orphanage that has been turned into a center for Yemeni refugees, in Obock, northern Djibouti. Fleeing the war at home, thousands of Yemenis have made it across the Gulf of Aden to find refuge in Djibouti, a sleepy Horn of Africa nation where the United Nations has set up a staging hub for aid for the conflict-torn Arab country. (AP Photo/Mosa’ab Elshamy)

: Yemeni refugee boys play football outside their camp, in Obock, northern Djibouti. Many of the refugees are relieved to have escaped after two months of Saudi-led airstrikes targeting Yemenís Shiite rebels and fighting on the ground between rival factions that have pushed their country to the brink of collapse. (AP Photo/Mosa’ab Elshamy)

: Newly-arrived Yemeni refugees wait at the Djibouti port in Djibouti city, where they are processed by immigration police. Many of the refugees arrived with just the few belongings they could carry, mostly on small rickety fishing boats, others on bigger vessels crammed with people, reversing a centuries-old perilous route that has seen countless African migrants take to the seas in the other direction. (AP Photo/Mosa’ab Elshamy)

: Yemeni refugee children pose for a photo inside their family tent at the Markaze refugee camp in Obock, Djibouti. Fleeing the war at home, thousands of Yemenis have made it across the Gulf of Aden to find refuge in Djibouti, a sleepy Horn of Africa nation where the United Nations has set up a staging hub for aid for the conflict-torn Arab country. (AP Photo/Mosa’ab Elshamy)

: Abo Bakr Mohammed, 12, who suffers from epilepsy, covers himself with a mosquito net in his family’s room, at an orphanage that has been turned into a center for Yemeni refugees, in Obock, northern Djibouti. The UNHCR says a total of 5,000 Yemeni refugees have made it to Djibouti, including 3,000 in the capital, Djibouti city, and 1,000 in Obock, 300 kilometers (187 miles) to the north making it currently the biggest Yemeni refugee population. (AP Photo/Mosa’ab Elshamy)

Thousands of Yemeni refugees stranded in Djibouti

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