APD | International Organization for Migration needs US$54 million for vulnerable migrants

By APD writer Melo M. Acuña

The United Nations’ International Organization for Migration said about 113,000 vulnerable migrants either in transit or stranded in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia and Yemen need all the possible help.

In a statement datelined Nairobi, IOM Regional Director for the East and Horn of Africa Mohammed Abdiker said migrants undertaking these journeys do so in search of a better life for themselves and their families.

“They are often young, in many cases children, unaware of the dangers on the route to Yemen, including extreme heat, conflict and violence, and human trafficking,” Abdiker explained.

Last month IOM and its partners updated the Regional Migrant Response Plan for the Horn of Africa and Yemen (RMRP) 2018-2020, hoping to raise US$54 million to assist those in need.

The RMRP is a humanitarian and development strategy to assist vulnerable migrants from the Horn of Africa who are either moving to, transiting through or returning from Yemen.

Many in the dangerous journey are exploited and abused as they attempt to reach Gulf countries in search of work.

“Migrants on the route to Yemen are among some of the most vulnerable. Meeting the humanitarian needs of this population must remain a priority for the international community,” he further said.

According to the statement, the RMRP lays out a plan for development-oriented durable solutions that address root causes of migration in the Horn of Africa and supports governments with capacity building activities to respond to humanitarian and protection requirements of migrants. It also supports research on root causes and drivers of migration in the Horn of Africa and Yemen. The initiative partners secured 32 percent of the funding requirement as of end-October.

The IOM believes by the end of 2019, 160,000 migrants will have entered Yemen by sea from different points in the Horn of Africa. Nearly 130,000 migrants are expected to return home to the region from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the same period. Post-arrival assistance is also extended to many of the returnees by the IOM.

It has been said at least five per cent of all migrant arrivals into Yemen tracked by IOM during the first semester of 2019 are unaccompanied or separated children. This, according to the IOM, is an increase from the two percent observed during the same period in 2018.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)