Regional mixed migration summary for September 2016 covering mixed migration events, trends and data for Djibouti, Eritrea, South Sudan, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Puntland, Somalia, Somaliland and Yemen.

Terminology: Throughout this report the term migrant/refugee is used to cover all those involved in the mixed migration flows (including asylum seekers, trafficked persons, smuggled economic migrants, refugees). If the caseload mentioned refers only to refugees or asylum seekers or trafficked persons it will be clearly stated.

Yemen

The conflict in Yemen entered its eighteenth month with shelling and fighting putting civilians at risk. As previously reported, due to the conflict, monitoring and data collection activities along the Red Sea and Arabian sea coasts continued to be affected, with a majority of monitoring exercises suspended. The data presented in this report on arrivals in Yemen is therefore not conclusive of the actual number of arrivals during this period.

Internal displacement: At the end of September 2016, there were an approximate 2.2 million internally displaced persons in Yemen, around 8% of the country’s population. More than 1.8 million of these people have been displaced for twelve months or more.

Continued arrivals from the Horn of Africa: A total of at least 10,600 migrants and asylum seekers (77% Ethiopians and 23% Somalis) arrived from the Horn of Africa to Yemen via the Red Sea, Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden in September 2016. For the second time this year, the proportion of Somali migrants and asylum seekers travelling to Yemen was sustained above the 20% mark, a trend not witnessed since 2014.

An estimated 1,662 (1,632 Ethiopians and 30 Somalis) migrants and asylum seekers arrived on the Red Sea coast of Yemen in September 2016, a 30% drop from the spike witnessed in August, but on par with average arrivals so far in 2016. Despite the overall decrease, the number of female Ethiopians increased by over 40%. The migrants arrived aboard 28 boats which departed from Obock, Djibouti landing in various towns in Ta’iz and Lahj governorates. Due to the reduction of monitoring missions along Yemen’s coast, it is likely that the actual number of arrivals from the Horn of Africa to Yemen was higher during the period.

In keeping with recent trends, the majority (98%) of Ethiopian nationals were of Oromo ethnicity. Migrants cited a variety of reasons for migration, including a lack of livelihood opportunities, unemployment, and drought. Some migrants seeking asylum reported being detained following student demonstrations or because they were believed to have been a member of the outlawed Oromo Liberation Front. Several migrants mentioned that they could not apply for asylum in Djibouti because they believed that the diplomatic relationship between Djibouti and Ethiopia would prevent them from accessing asylum. All interviewed Ethiopian migrants reported that they had had relied on the assistance of smugglers to cross into Djibouti and paid between 6,000-9,000 Ethiopian Birr (approx. USD 270 – 405). All except one Ethiopian migrant expressed and intention to travel onwards to Saudi Arabia to look for work.

Somali nationals largely originated from Wooqoy Galbeed and Banadir, with others coming from other regions in Somaliland, Puntland and South Central Somalia. Although the majority of Somalis left Somalia in the hopes of securing better economic opportunities, there were a number of reasons given for migrating including, the unstable government and the presence of Al Shabaab. Somalis paid between USD 30-200 for the trip to Djibouti, relying on a smuggler once they crossed the border from Somalia via the border town of Loya Ade. Some chose to fly directly to Loya Ade from Mogadishu and Hargeisa before making the crossing on foot or in a car. Both Somalis and Ethiopians paid between USD 100-150 per person for the sea crossing from Obock to Yemen.

An additional 8,938 migrants and asylum seekers (73% Ethiopian, 27% Somali) arrived on Arabian Sea coasts of Yemen in September 2016.

Migrant vulnerability: This month, the majority of migrants reported an uneventful sea crossing to Yemen from Djibouti. Migrants did however report that the boats used were small and overcrowded. In one report, a smuggler was heard contacting a suspected group of human traffickers on the shore who directed the boatman to land at a specific location on the coast.

Upon arrival in Yemen, migrants continued to report attempts by armed smugglers and/or traffickers stationed along the coastline to abduct newly arrived migrants. Based on interviews with 619 new arrivals in Yemen in September, migrants reported a total of 1,749 violations were reported in September. Of these, migrants reported 592 cases of abduction and 372 instances of interception, accounting for 34% and 21% of all violations respectively. Interviewed migrants reported that criminal groups hold abducted migrants in “dens” where they are mistreated until they can raise enough money to secure their release. Two men reported that they, along with 83 others, including 5 women, had been abducted from the coast in mid-August and had only been released after their families had paid 4,000 Ethiopian Birr each (approximately USD 180). Over 50 women and girls were reported to have been abducted by gangs immediately after landing in Yemen; their whereabouts are unknown.

Protection issues reported by migrants transiting through Djibouti on their way to Yemen are reported in the Djibouti country section below.

Irregular migrants detained in Yemen: Dozens of African migrants, mostly from Ethiopia, are being detained in Yemen on the suspicion that they might be recruited to join militant groups in the country. According to the head of security in Aden, “We noticed that many are coming here, especially Ethiopians. They are all young men. We had some doubts and to be careful, we have put them in detention because we believe our enemies Houthis and (former President) Ali Abdullah Saleh are recruiting them to fight in the war against our sons in the south”.

Deportations from Yemen: According to IOM, hundreds of migrants are being deported to Djibouti from Yemen, with projections that another 3,000 migrants may be deported in a number of days. The Migration Response Centre (MRC) in Obock, managed by IOM in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior, is currently hosting over 600 Ethiopian migrants who were deported from Southern Yemen. Another 314 migrants are being housed in tents outside the facility. There are concerns thousands of Ethiopian migrants might become stranded in Djibouti if efforts to close this route – used by more than 10,000 migrants and asylum seekers every month – are continued.

Departures from Yemen: As of 30th September 2016, the number of people fleeing Yemen to the Horn of Africa (Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan) had totalled 89,621 persons (36,162 in Djibouti, 33,579 in Somalia, 13,299 in Ethiopia, and 6,581 in Sudan). Yemenis and Somalis continue to represent the largest proportion of people moving out of Yemen, accounting for 30% and 35% of movements respectively. Djibouti is the primary destination for Yemeni nationals, with 73% of those moving opting to travel to Djibouti.

N.B. The figures for Djibouti arrivals between May and September were not received in time to update this report. The figures for Djibouti therefore reflect arrivals at the end of April 2016. The latest statistics and overview of the displacement situation arising out of the Yemen crisis can be found on the UNHCR data sharing and information portal...........

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