Monthly Regional Update (Middle East and North Africa)

 In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the local authorities of Yemen (Ye) declared a nationwide health emergency and introduced many preventive and mitigation measures adopted by the rest of the world starting in March 2020 in order to avoid and reduce the transmission of the COVID-19. These measures include the adoption of restrictions on movement countrywide, by closure/partially closure of (5) International airports, (12) sea border points, (3) land border points. Due to ongoing internal conflict, DTM has identified (11) transit points which include restrictions on freedom of movement between south and north governorates at various places, mainly in Taizz and Al Bayda and Al-jawf, as well as additional preventive entry and exit restrictions being established

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In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the local authorities of Yemen (Ye) declared a nationwide health emergency and introduced many preventive and mitigation measures adopted by the rest of the world starting in March 2020 in order to avoid and reduce the transmission of the COVID-19. These measures include the adoption of restrictions on movement countrywide, by closure/partially closure of (4) International airports, (11) sea border points, (2) land border points and including restrictions on freedom of movement between south and north governorates at various point (7 recorded in this report), including in Taizz and Al Bayda.​

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Between 1 January and 30 June 2020, IOM Yemen recorded 31,617 cross border migrants. Cross border migration was monitored through a network of 5 FMPs along the southern border of the country in Abyan, Hadramaut, Lahj, and Shabwah governorates.
The migrant arrivals to Yemen in the period between January and June 2020 decreased by 63%, compared to the same period in the last year 2019 due to COVID-19 related restriction they, also have caused tens of thousands of Ethiopian migrants to be stranded on their journeys. These migrants face increasing dangers throughout Yemen—a major transit country on the Horn of Africa-Arabian Gulf migration route to reach to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) in search of economic opportunities.
The migrant caseload has been primarily Ethiopian (93%) and Somalis (7%), with 96% of those tracked heading for Saudi Arabia and 4% towards Yemen.
The migrants are predominantly male (72%), with 15% women and 10% boys and 3% girls also among the travelers.
Through the reporting period, the highest arrivals were observed at the Shabwah governorate with 11,708 migrants entering the Al Khabyah monitoring point and in Al Aarah monitoring point in Lahj governorate with 10,112 migrant arrivals.
In the reporting period and in the Yemeni returnees field, IOM estimates that 13,313 Yemeni returns from neighboring countries 13,054 from KSA through the Manfath Al-Wadeeah FMP in the governorate of Hadramaut and 259 from Djibouti through Al Aarah flow monitoring point in Lahj governorate.
The Yemeni returnees are predominantly male (93%), with 2% women and 3% boys and 2% girls.
Through the reporting period, the highest returns were observed at the governorates of Al Mahwit 1,495 and Sana’a 1,430.​

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DTM’s Rapid Displacement Tracking (RDT) tool collects and reports on numbers of households forced to flee on a daily basis, allowing for regular reporting of new displacements in terms of numbers, geography and needs. In the first seven months of 2020, conflict and natural disasters have resulted in new patterns of displacement, particularly in Marib, Al Hudaydah, Al Dhale'e, and Taizz governorates.

From 01 January 2020 - 22 Aug 2020, IOM Yemen DTM estimates that 20,126  Households or 120,756 Individuals have experienced displacement, at least once.                                                                                                                                                 

Between the 16^th Aug 2020 and 22^nd of Aug 2020, IOM Yemen DTM tracked 264 Households or 1,584 individuals displaced at least once, the highest number of displacements were seen in:                                                                         

• Marib (214 HH) – Marib (127 HH), Marib City (63 HH), Sirwah (24 HH) districts. Most displacements in the governorate were internal.
• Al Hudaydah (28 HH) – Al Khawkhah (28 HH) district. Most displacements in the governorate were internal.
• Taizz (13 HH) – Mawza (6 HH), Mashra'a Wa Hadnan (4 HH) districts. Most displacements in the governorate were internal.

Most displacement resulted from increased conflict in the following Governorates and districts.

• Marib (214 HH) – Medghal (206 HH), Majzar (8 HH) districts.
• Al Hudaydah (29 HH) – Al Hawak (23 HH) district.
• Taizz (7 HH) – Maqbanah (5 HH), Mawza (1 HH), Al Ma'afer (1 HH) districts.                           

DTM’s Rapid Displacement Tracking (RDT) tool collects and reports on numbers of households forced to flee on a daily basis, allowing for regular reporting of new displacements in terms of numbers, geography and needs. In the first seven months of 2020, conflict and natural disasters have resulted in new patterns of displacement, particularly in Marib, Al Hudaydah, Al Dhale'e, and Taizz governorates.

From 01 January 2020- 8 Aug 2020, IOM Yemen DTM estimates that 18,455  Households or 110,730 Individuals have experienced displacement, at least once.

Between the 2^nd Aug 2020 and 8^th of Aug 2020, IOM Yemen DTM tracked 596 Households or 3,567 individuals displaced at least once, the highest number of displacements were seen in:

• Al Hudaydah (567 HH) – At Tuhayat (320 HH), Hays (203 HH), Al Munirah (44 HH) districts. Most displacements in the governorate were internal.
• Taizz (12 HH) – Mashra'a Wa Hadnan (6 HH), Al Wazi'iyah (4 HH), Al Misrakh (2 HH) districts. Most displacements in the governorate were originated from Aden.
• Al Dhale'e (12 HH) – Qa'atabah (9 HH),Al Hussein (3 HH) districts. Most displacements in the governorate were internal.

Most displacement resulted from floods and heavy rains in the following Governorate and districts:

• Al Hudaydah (568 HH) – At Tuhayat (320 HH), Hays (204 HH), Al Munirah (44 HH) districts.

Most displacement resulted from increased conflict in the following Governorates and districts:

• Aden (10 HH) – Craiter (6 HH), Al Buraiqeh (4 HH) districts.
• Al Dhale'e (10 HH) – Qa'atabah (10 HH) district.

DTM’s Rapid Displacement Tracking (RDT) tool collects and reports on numbers of households forced to flee on a daily basis, allowing for regular reporting of new displacements in terms of numbers, geography and needs. In the first five months of 2020, conflict has resulted in new patterns of displacement, particularly in within Marib, Al Dhale'e, and Taizz governorates.

From 01 January 2020 - 1 August 2020, IOM Yemen DTM estimates that 17,877 Households or 107,262 Individuals have experienced displacement, at least once.

Between the 26^th July 2020 and 1^st of August 2020, IOM Yemen DTM tracked 693 Households or 4,158 individuals displaced at least once, the highest number of displacements were seen in:

• Al Hudaydah (612 HH) – Al Qanawis (486 HH), Az Zuhrah (115 HH), At Tuhayat (6 HH) districts. Most displacements in the governorate were internal.
• Marib (66 HH) – Sirwah (65 HH), Marib City (1 HH) districts. Most displacements in the governorate were internal.
• Taizz (14 HH) – Al Misrakh (5 HH),Mashra'a Wa Hadnan (3 HH),Jabal Habashy (2 HH) districts. Most displacements in the governorate were originated from Taiz and Al Hudaydah.

Most displacement resulted from floods and heavy rains in the following Governorates and districts:

• Al Hudaydah (601 HH) – Al Qanawis (486 HH), Az Zuhrah (115 HH) districts.
• Marib (65 HH) – Sirwah (65 HH) district.

Methods used:

· DTM’s Rapid Displacement Tracking (RDT) tool collects and reports on numbers of households forced to flee on a daily basis, allowing for regular reporting of new displacements in terms of numbers, geography and needs.

Limitations:

·        DTM Yemen is unable to report on figures in some governorates due to access limitations

The DTM Monthly Regional Update contains consolidated summary updates and highlights from DTM field operations. This document covers updates from the regional network of flow monitoring of migrants, as well as the tracking and monitoring of internal displacement in the countries. It is published on a monthly basis and covers the Middle East and North Africa Region.