Yemen - Flow Monitoring Registry | Non-Yemeni Migrant Arrivals and Yemeni Migrant Returnees in August 2023

In August 2023, IOM Yemen DTM recorded 4,176 migrants entering Yemen, a decrease of 56 per cent since last month (9,500). The number of migrants entering Yemen via the Lahj coast (2,249) has decreased 71 per cent since last month (7,835). This sharp decrease was likely due to the presence of a joint security campaign that was launched in the beginning of August. The campaign included raids on the properties of smugglers and the arrest of some of these along with the Ethiopian guides who assisted in the transporting migrants from Ethiopia, as well as the deployment of military points on the coastal strip to pursue smugglers' boats. In contrast, the number of migrants entering Shabwah increased by 16 per cent in August (1,927) compared to July (1,665). This increase can be attributed to more favorable sea tides and wind speed. According to DTM, conflict-induced movements constituted 25 per cent of all incoming movements in August 2023. These movements were exclusively observed in Shabwah, originating from Bari, Somalia (27% children, 18% women, and 55% men).

The humanitarian crisis in Yemen and challenges in reaching Saudi Arabia led many migrants to return to the Horn of Africa. In August 2023, Djibouti DTM team recorded 349 migrants (324 male and 25 female) embarked on a dangerous journey back home by boat from Yemen. Additionally, DTM observed a decrease in Yemeni returnees (-14%) in August (3,707) compared to July (4,286). Between January and August 2023, DTM recorded a total of 90,806 migrants and 35,071 Yemeni migrant returnees to Yemen. Furthermore, IOM DTM received a report about 60 Ethiopian migrants who had travelled from Yemen to Oman but were deported back to Yemen.