Migration Along the Eastern Route (September 2024)

The Horn of Africa and Yemen is one of the busiest and riskiest migration corridors in the world travelled by hundreds of thousands of migrants, the majority of whom travel in an irregular manner, often relying on smugglers to facilitate movement along the Eastern Route. This regional report provides monthly updates on the complex migratory dynamics through Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia and Yemen based on diverse data sources and consultations with key informants in the four countries. Moreover, it provides information on the main protection concerns for migrants along the journey, a focus on children and information on the forced returns from Saudi Arabia to Ethiopia, Somalia and Yemen.

• As of September (53,000), movements tracked in Obock towards the Arabian Peninsula surpassed all movements tracked in 2023 (49,100), which represents a 62% increase between 2023 (32,700) and 2024 for the period of January to September, and an 8% increase from all exit movements tracked in 2023.

• The number of stranded migrants in Djibouti almost quadrupled (+259%) between August (963) and September (3,461) due to the resumption of migratory movements after August’s heavy rains and floods, and tighter controls by Djiboutian authorities along the coast of Obock.

• While the overall number of migrants assisted in Obock remained similar between 2023 (2,028) and 2024 (1,850) for the period of January to September, the number of assisted girls increased by 40% (from 43 to 60).

• For the period of January to September, exit movements from Ethiopia along the Eastern Route increased by 28% between 2023 (135,000) and 2024 (173,000).

• In Ethiopia, the number of tracked migrant children increased by 33% between 2023 (6,500) and 2024 (8,700) for the period of January to September, with the number of migrant boys and girls increasing by 38% and 24%, respectively. • In September, an additional 6,000 forced returns from Saudi Arabia to Ethiopia brought the total number of forced returns to 86,800, which is more than double (+102%) the total reported in all of 2023 (43,000).

• The number of migrant children tracked in Bossaso heading to Yemen more than doubled (+132%) between 2023 (2,800) and 2024 (6,400) for the period of January to September, representing 16% of movements in 2024.

• During September, there were reports of armed groups exploiting stranded migrants and coercing some into joining their ranks, while smuggling networks in the Sool region have increased their demands on transiting migrants for transportation and accommodation fees.

• In September, 284 Ethiopian migrants were deported from Oman to Yemen through Deifen Point in the Shahan district of Al Maharah Governorate, which represents a 53% increase between 2023 (1,082) and 2024 (1,653) for the period of January to September and a 24% increase from the whole of 2023 (1,336)