Yemen - Flow Monitoring Points | Non-Yemeni Migrant Arrivals and Yemeni Migrant Returnees in February 2023

In February 2023, IOM Yemen DTM recorded 10,726 migrants entering Yemen, with a slight increase of less than 1 per cent over last month (10,707). In Lahj (7,791 migrants) DTM has observed a slight drop in arrivals, (-1) per cent decrease from last month (7,904 migrants). This stands in contrast to Shabwah (2,931) which recorded a minore increase this month by 5 per cent. migration flows shifted from Obock, Djibouti (-1%) towards Bari, Somalia (+5%). The overall increase could be linked to weather conditions, sea tides and decreased coast guard patrolling in Djibouti. While travel had been primarily due to economic reasons in the first half of 2022, DTM has been recording conflict induced movements since August 2022, being the reason for 26 per cent of all incoming movements in February 2023. All conflict motivated travel was recorded in Shabwah coming from Bari, Somalia (32% children, 13% women, and 55% men).

Due to the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Yemen and the challenges in moving towards KSA, many migrants opted to return to the Horn of Africa. DTM teams in Djibouti recorded that during February 2023, a total of 493 migrants took the risky return by boat from Yemen to travel home. DTM teams in Somalia further recorded the arrival of 27 returning Somali nationals returning from Yemen Lowyacado and Bossaso. Meanwhile, DTM reported 4,338 Yemeni returns from KSA in February 2023, compared to 5,100 in January 2023.

Between 1 January and 28 February 2023, DTM recorded 21,433 migrants and 9,438 Yemeni migrant returnees to Yemen.

The migrant caseload was around 98 per cent Ethiopian nationals, and around two per cent Somali nationals. The migrants are predominantly male (72%), with six per cent women, (16%) boys and five per cent girls also among travelers.

Through February’s reporting period, 2,935 migrants arrived from Somalia and were recorded 2,931 at Ber Ali and 4 at Al Qarn flow monitoring points in Shabwah and Hadramawt governorates. In Lahj governorate, 7,791 migrants arrived from Djibouti, where 6,387 were recorded at Al Azaf flow monitoring point (FMP), 1,139 at Al Cawhah FMP, and 265 at Al Maqrah FMP.