Qatar Charity Emergency Response Plan (ERP): New Wave of Yemeni Refugees Reaches Djibouti 2026
Countries: Djibouti, Yemen Source: Qatar Charity SEPTEMBER 2026 – NOVEMBER 2026 | PUBLISHED ON 15 SEPTEMBER Doha, Qatar — Qatar Charity- QC has activated an emergency humanitarian response to support Yemeni refugees arriving in Djibouti, as renewed fighting in Yemen continues to force families across the Bab al-Mandab Strait in search of safety. According to the International Organization for Migration, displacement inside Yemen has surpassed 85,000 people, while more than 2,000 people have reached Djibouti’s northern shores near Obock in recent days, many of them women and children. In response to the rapidly evolving situation, Qatar Charity has mobilized its crisis management teams at headquarters in Doha and through its field office in Djibouti to deliver urgent lifesaving assistance to newly arrived families and to reinforce support for refugee-hosting areas already under pressure. Djibouti has long served as a critical place of refuge for Yemenis fleeing conflict, insecurity, and economic collapse. UNHCR data shows that, as of 31 March 2026, Djibouti was hosting 36,364 refugees and asylum-seekers, including 3,934 Yemenis, who represented 10.8 percent of the country’s registered refugee and asylum-seeker population. The latest arrivals are increasing pressure on limited public services, shelter capacity, water supplies, health services, and basic infrastructure in Obock and surrounding host communities. Immediate humanitarian needs are: Emergency shelter and non-food items; Hot meals and ready-to-eat food assistance; Safe drinking water; Primary health care; WASH facilities and hygiene support; and Nutrition support for mothers and children. QATAR CHARITY CAPACITY AND RESPONSE QC- Djibouti has a longstanding presence in the country and extensive experience supporting the Government-led response to Yemeni refugees. QC’s initial emergency package for the new wave of refugees, with an estimated allocation of USD 1,000,000, focuses on the most urgent humanitarian needs facing newly arrived families, including shelter, essential household items, food, water, and dignity support. The response includes: Shelter and non-food items, including sleeping mats and blankets, for 1,959 families; Hot meals and safe drinking water for 1,000 people over 10 days; Essential clothing and shoes for 1,040 families; and The planned intervention includes provision of 500 family tents to expand safe and dignified temporary shelter options. Qatar Charity emphasized that its response is being implemented in close coordination with Djiboutian authorities, IOM, and humanitarian partners to ensure assistance reaches the most vulnerable families quickly and effectively. The intervention is designed not only to meet immediate survival needs, but also to reduce pressure on host communities by strengthening support in areas where public services and resources are already stretched. “Families arriving in Djibouti have endured fear, displacement, and dangerous journeys in search of safety,” Qatar Charity said. “Our priority is to provide immediate lifesaving assistance while helping preserve dignity and protection for refugees and the communities receiving them.” Qatar Charity called on the international community and donor organizations to scale up support for Yemeni refugees in Djibouti and other host countries, including funding for lifesaving assistance, protection services, health care, water and sanitation, and sustainable humanitarian programmes. Sustained international solidarity is urgently needed to protect affected families, support host communities, and help refugees rebuild their lives with safety and dignity. Funding required USD 500,000
ReliefWeb•Qatar Charity15 Sept
The Guardian•Patrick Wintour Diplomatic editor15 Sept
