Mixed migration between Horn of Africa and Yemen reaches record high
Briefing Notes, 18 November 2011
This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Melissa Fleming -
to whom quoted text may be attributed - at the press briefing, on 18
November 2011, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
The number of refugees and migrants arriving in Yemen by boat was 12,545
last month - the highest monthly total since UNHCR began compiling data
about the mixed migration route between the Horn of Africa and Yemen in
January 2006.
As well as exceeding the previous record of 12,079 arrivals in September,
the October total brings to 84,656 the number of people who arrived in Yemen
by sea between the start of January and the start of November - more than
the earlier annual record in 2009 of 77,000 people. Of this year's arrivals
23,079 are from Somalia; nearly all the remaining 61,577 people are
Ethiopians. With the autumn sailing season still in full swing, we expect
the numbers for 2011 to grow further.
Between 2006 and 2008 Somali refugees accounted for the majority of all
arrivals in Yemen, but that has changed. Since 2009 Ethiopian migrants have
constituted the largest group among those crossing the Red Sea and the Gulf
of Aden. From 2006 to 2011 their number has increased six fold - from some
11,000 in 2006 to 61,000 between January and October this year.
The sailing patterns have also shifted significantly over the years.
Initially, most of the crossings occurred in the Gulf of Aden where the
journey from Somalia to Yemen takes three to four days. Since 2009 there has
been increasing traffic on the Red Sea. There, the voyage from the Horn to
Yemen, with boats now arriving at all times of day, lasts only a few hours.
Today, three out of four boats reaching Yemen come ashore on the country's
Red Sea coast.
Refugees from Somalia continue to cite conflict, insecurity, drought and the
resulting famine as the main factors driving them to leave their country.
Most arrive in Yemen unaware of the situation there, where insecurity makes
further movement difficult and risky. Most Ethiopians say they left home
because of a lack of economic and livelihood opportunities, but some have
indicated they fled in fear of persecution or insecurity in their regions of
origin.
As well as affecting refugees and migrants, the insecurity and fighting in
many parts of Yemen also poses additional challenges and risks for our
partners and our own staff. Our partners have been forced to reduce the
number of convoys and take longer routes transporting refugees from the
reception and transit centres along the Gulf coast to Kharaz refugee camp,
some 130 kilometres west of Aden. Together with our partners we are
informing all those in the reception and transit centres about the situation
in Yemen. But many decide not to wait for transport and set off on foot
towards Yemeni towns and cities - often through conflict-affected areas.
We are concerned about an increasing trend of abductions, extortions,
kidnappings and sexual assaults targeting refugees, and particularly
Ethiopian migrants. While Somalis are automatically recognized as refugees
upon arrival to Yemen and are generally left alone by smugglers, many
Ethiopians are taken by smugglers to other Gulf states or held for ransom
before they can have any contact with the authorities or UNHCR. The
perpetrators are mainly smuggling gangs profiting from a reduced police
presence in parts of Yemen, particularly along the Red Sea coast. We
continue to provide medical and legal assistance as well as counseling to
victims.
Yemen currently hosts more than 200,491 Somali refugees. In addition, an
estimated 445,679 Yemeni civilians are displaced throughout the country.
UNHCR and its partners continue to provide essential protection and
assistance.
For further information on this topic, please contact:
* In Aden, Edward Leposky on mobile: +967 71 222 4022
* In Geneva: Andrej Mahecic on mobile +41 79 200 7617
------------[ Sent via the dehai-wn mailing list by dehai.org]--------------
Received on Fri Nov 18 2011 - 07:04:34 EST