Yemen - Flow Monitoring Registry | Non-Yemeni Migrant Arrivals and Yemeni Migrant Returnees in January 2024

IOM Yemen DTM’s Flow Monitoring Registry (FMR) monitors migrant arrivals on the southern coastal border and Yemeni return locations on Yemen's northern border with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Enumerators placed at Flow Monitoring Points (FMPs) record migrant arrivals and returning Yemeni nationals to identify different patterns of migration, and to provide quantitative estimates to help define the population of irregular migrants entering the country. FMR is not representative of all flows in Yemen and should be understood as only indicative of migration trends of the unknown total number of migrants arriving in Yemen at FMPs during the time frame indicated. Access constraints limit the ability to collect data at some migrant arrival points.

In an effort to reduce the flow of migrants entering Yemen, which primarily crosses through its territory towards Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, a joint military campaign was initiated in August 2023. This campaign focused on the coast of Lahj governorate, a significant entry point for a large number of migrants (max. 15,714 migrants in March 2023). Towards achieving this mission, the military campaign intensified the detention of smugglers and pursued their boats, leading to a steady decrease in the flow of migrants through this coast until it ceased entirely during the last four months, with a single exception in the middle of December, when a boat carrying 110 migrants managed to land there.

In January 2024, IOM Yemen DTM recorded 1,737 migrants entering Yemen, an increase of three per cent compared to last month (1,679). Shabwah typically serves as an entry point for migrants from Somalia and rarely sees migrants departing from Djibouti due to the considerable distance between Djibouti and Shabwah. In Shabwah, the total number of migrants arrived during January was 1,736 (1,526 departing from Bari, Somalia and 210 migrants departing from Obock, Djibouti). The overall number of migrants entering through Shabwah has increased by 11 per cent in January (1,736) compared to December (1,569). Furthermore, one migrant was noted in Hadramawt's Maqrah FMP. He came aboard a Yemeni fishermen's boat that had carried him while fishing near Somalia.

According to DTM, conflict-induced movements constituted 76 per cent of all incoming movements in January 2024. These movements were exclusively observed in Shabwah, originating from Bari, Somalia (89%) and Obock, Djibouti (11%). Djibouti DTM team recorded 282 migrants (246 males and 36 females) embarked on a dangerous journey back home by boat from Yemen during January 2024 due to the humanitarian crisis in Yemen and challenges in reaching Saudi Arabia.

Additionally, DTM observed a decrease in Yemeni returnees by one per cent in January (5,148) compared to December (5,092). Furthermore, in January 2024, five Somali migrants were deported from Oman back into Yemen.

IOM Yemen DTM’s Flow Monitoring Registry (FMR) monitors migrant arrivals on the southern coastal border and Yemeni return locations on Yemen's northern border with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Enumerators placed at Flow Monitoring Points (FMPs) record migrant arrivals and returning Yemeni nationals to identify different patterns of migration, and to provide quantitative estimates to help define the population of irregular migrants entering the country. FMR is not representative of all flows in Yemen and should be understood as only indicative of migration trends of the unknown total number of migrants arriving in Yemen at FMPs during the time frame indicated. Access constraints limit the ability to collect data at some migrant arrival points.

In an effort to reduce the flow of migrants entering Yemen, which primarily crosses through its territory towards Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, a joint military campaign was initiated in August 2023. This campaign focused on the coast of Lahj governorate, a significant entry point for a large number of migrants (max. 15,714 migrants in March 2023). Towards achieving this mission, the military campaign intensified the detention of smugglers and pursued their boats, leading to a steady decrease in the flow of migrants through this coast until it ceased entirely during the last four months, with a single exception in the middle of December, when a boat carrying 110 migrants managed to land there.

In January 2024, IOM Yemen DTM recorded 1,737 migrants entering Yemen, an increase of three per cent compared to last month (1,679). Shabwah typically serves as an entry point for migrants from Somalia and rarely sees migrants departing from Djibouti due to the considerable distance between Djibouti and Shabwah. In Shabwah, the total number of migrants arrived during January was 1,736 (1,526 departing from Bari, Somalia and 210 migrants departing from Obock, Djibouti). The overall number of migrants entering through Shabwah has increased by 11 per cent in January (1,736) compared to December (1,569). Furthermore, one migrant was noted in Hadramawt's Maqrah FMP. He came aboard a Yemeni fishermen's boat that had carried him while fishing near Somalia.

According to DTM, conflict-induced movements constituted 76 per cent of all incoming movements in January 2024. These movements were exclusively observed in Shabwah, originating from Bari, Somalia (89%) and Obock, Djibouti (11%). Djibouti DTM team recorded 282 migrants (246 males and 36 females) embarked on a dangerous journey back home by boat from Yemen during January 2024 due to the humanitarian crisis in Yemen and challenges in reaching Saudi Arabia.

Additionally, DTM observed a decrease in Yemeni returnees by one per cent in January (5,148) compared to December (5,092). Furthermore, in January 2024, five Somali migrants were deported from Oman back into Yemen.