Ethiopian, Sudanese and Somali illegal migrants stranded in Yemen
By Tesfa-Alem Tekle
November 13, 2010 (ADDIS ABABA) – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) expressed grave concern on the situation of hundreds of illegal African migrants, mainly Ethiopians, who remain stranded at the Yemen- Saudi common border.
According an IOM press release, the refugees are part of the initial group of 2,000 Ethiopian, Sudanese and Somali illegal migrants registered and referred to the IOM by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) at the Yemeni’s northern border town of Haradh.
“The migrants are in dire need of humanitarian assistance,” says IOM’s Mario Malanca, Practice Manager for Crisis Mitigation and Recovery, currently in Haradh.
“They sleep in open spaces, next to the mosque and under the trees. They eat whatever scraps are left for them. There is nothing here that can provide basic services for the migrants, and their numbers are increasing.”
The Ethiopian refugees are said only to represent a fraction of the growing numbers of migrants who on daily bases, attempt to cross from east Africa to the Gulf states across the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden without proper access to food, water and shelter. The conflict between Houthi insurgents and Yemeni forces in Saada province is also said to have worsen the situation on ground.
“The condition of most of the migrants in and around Haradh is very poor. After a long and perilous journey by foot and by sea from Ethiopia, Somalia or Sudan to the Saudi border that has left them dehydrated and malnourished, many are in very bad health.” said the press briefing.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) says it is providing urgent assistance to Yemen to solve the problem of growing figures of illegal African migrants coming into the country.
“We are putting all our efforts into easing the migrants’ situation and to help them to return back to their families,” said Malanca.
Yemen is able, with IOM assistance, to return illegal African migrants home within a few days of their arrival.
IOM said it is currently working closely with Ethiopian consular officials to manage the situation.
‘In Addis Ababa, IOM, together with the Ethiopian government, has been preparing the ground for the migrants’ return and for their journey back to their homes. IOM and UNICEF will make sure that vulnerable groups such as minors are provided care and support upon their arrival, including family tracing.’
Over the weekend, 950 Ethiopian migrants are expected due to be voluntarily flown out of Yemen’s al-Hodeidah airport on a direct flight home to Ethiopia.
During the last 12 months, thousands of Ethiopian refugees were voluntarily repatriated home through the help of IOM.
Although Yemen is considered as the poorest country in the Arabian Peninsula, the country has long been destination, and transit for illegal African migrants mainly due its proximity to the Horn of Africa and wealthy Gulf states.
According to Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), every year, thousands of Somalis and Ethiopians risk their lives making the dangerous journey jammed into small boats to cross the Gulf of Aden to Yemen.
Hoping to escape the conflict and extreme poverty in their own countries, these desperate passengers are regularly abused and sometimes killed by the brutal smugglers they pay to get them across.
(ST)