Yemenis flee by boat across the Red Sea to escape fighting in Yemen, as conflict linked to the wider Middle East war draws in regional forces. Reuters reports that people take to crowded boats after clashes between Iran-backed Houthi fighters and Saudi-backed forces, with some reaching Africa via the sea route.
Al-Monitor adds detail from International Organization for Migration accounts, describing difficult conditions during the crossing, including rough water and children feeling sick. It frames the exodus in terms of immediate danger from the fighting, while also noting the wider regional implications.
Multiple outlets also connect the unrest to concerns about global energy supplies. The West Australian and PerthNow say the spread of hostilities to Yemen and Saudi Arabia could worsen an existing energy supply shortage, tying the humanitarian movement to potential disruptions in oil and shipping routes in the Red Sea.
