Djibouti: Refugee and migrant journeys to Yemen and the Gulf

Reports

Djibouti: Refugee and migrant journeys to Yemen and the Gulf

15 July 2026

Decision-making, experiences and aspirations of refugees moving through Djibouti, the country from which the shortest maritime crossing to the Arabian Peninsula is possible.

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The Eastern Route from the Horn of Africa to Yemen and the Gulf remains one of the world’s busiest mixed movement routes, and Djibouti holds a strategic position along it as the country from which the shortest maritime crossing to the Arabian Peninsula is possible.

This infographic, produced jointly with the Mixed Migration Centre, examines the journeys of more than 500 refugees and migrants moving through Djibouti. 21% of respondents were reinterviewed approximately six months after the initial baseline interview, providing longitudinal insights into how refugees’ and migrants’ movement intentions, exposure to abuse and hardship, and aspirations evolve along the Eastern Route.

Highlights

Exposure to protection risks along the route through Djibouti escalates over time. The number of respondents who had experienced some form of abuse or harm increased from 14 at baseline to 44 at follow-up and the severity of harm increased.
Evolving intentions. Of the seven respondents who initially sought permanent moves to Canada (three) and Europe (four) at baseline, six had abandoned these plans by the follow-up and pivoted to temporary moves to the Gulf (three), remaining in Djibouti (1), and returning to Ethiopia (1). This reflects how barriers to certain destinations or longer-distance journeys can force a total recalibration of movement plans en route.
Declining needs amidst increasing abuse. While the data on respondents’ exposure to abuse and hardship reveals a steep increase overtime, particularly those who reached the Gulf, their overall need for assistance declines (63 at baseline vs. 49 at follow-up). Having no assistance needs was observed irrespective of whether respondents had returned to Ethiopia (7/22), remained in Djibouti (8/31), or moved onward to the Gulf (7/18).

Background

Over 100,000 people, mostly from Ethiopia, arrive in Yemen from the Horn of Africa annually.

The land journey through Djibouti is marked by harsh desert conditions, which can lead to starvation, thirst, and death, especially in the summer. The maritime crossing to the Arabian Peninsula represents one of the deadliest stages of the journey. Between January and September 2025, 890 deaths and disappearances were recorded. In the same time period, around 94,000 refugees and migrants departed from the coast of Obock in Djibouti, which represents a 23% increase over the entire 2024 (76,600).

Efforts to curb irregular movements in Djibouti, including arrests of smugglers and deportation of migrants and increased coast guard activity, have made mixed movements through Djibouti riskier, translating into higher smuggler fees and greater dangers for those making the attempt.

Djibouti is also an important host country for refugees and migrants from the Horn of Africa. As of June 2025, UNHCR recorded 24,595 refugees and 9,159 asylum seekers in the country.