The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) says 27,800 refugees from the Horn of Africa region entered war-torn Yemen in 2022.

“At least 27,800 migrants have entered Yemen from the Horn of Africa in the first five months of 2022. IOM is concerned about the safety and well-being of people moving through Yemen,” the United Nations agency said in its latest Displacement Tracking Matrix on Tuesday.

Christa Rottensteiner, IOM Yemen’s Chief of Mission, added that “Our teams meet migrants every day who have been injured in the conflict or become stranded on their journeys.”

The agency estimated that 27,700 migrants entered Yemen through the eastern route last year, attributing the decrease from 138,000 recorded in 2019 to COVID-19 mobility restrictions. Approximately 37,500 made the journey in 2020. 

“A variety of factors may be influencing this year’s increase, including a loosening of COVID-19 mobility restrictions, more favourable weather conditions as well as the security situation and drought in Ethiopia,” the IOM report further disclosed.

IOM recently disclosed a US$7.5 million appeal to support thousands of stranded migrants to return from Yemen to Ethiopia voluntarily.

Meanwhile, thousands of desperate migrants from Ethiopia and Somalia cross the dangerous Gulf of Aden route annually, hoping to reach the Middle East via Yemen. The migrants are mainly aiming to reach Yemen’s northern neighbour Saudi Arabia. 

(Xinhua/NAN)