In a joint effort, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and 48 other humanitarian and development organizations, alongside governments, are rallying for USD 112m to provide critical support to over 2.1 million migrants and host communities traversing the perilous Eastern and Southern migration routes. The appeal, made during a donor briefing in Geneva, Switzerland, underscores the urgent need to address the escalating humanitarian crisis affecting migrants in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, Yemen, Kenya, and Tanzania.
The call for funds follows a tragic incident off the coast of Djibouti, where at least 38 migrants, including children, perished when their boat capsized after departing from Yemen. Ugochi Daniels, IOM Deputy Director General for Operations, emphasized the pressing nature of the situation, stating that last week’s tragedy serves as a poignant reminder of the dire humanitarian, protection, and development needs of migrants along the Eastern and Southern migration routes.
Annually, tens of thousands of migrants embark on perilous journeys from the Horn of Africa, predominantly Ethiopia and Somalia, seeking opportunities in Gulf countries via the ‘Eastern route.’ Simultaneously, migrants traverse Kenya, Tanzania, and Southern Africa, aiming to reach South Africa via the ‘Southern route.’ These migration corridors, marked by danger, complexity, and insufficient reporting, witness hundreds of thousands of migrant movements annually, with 480,000 movements recorded in 2023 alone.
Migrants navigating these routes encounter severe challenges, including starvation, dehydration, and egregious human rights violations such as sexual violence and exploitation by traffickers and smugglers. Notably, as of December 2023, 46% of arrivals in Yemen comprised women and children, with nearly 20% of children traveling unaccompanied along the ‘Eastern route.’ Presently, over 46,000 migrants remain stranded along this route, while approximately 11,600 movements were identified along the ‘Southern route,’ en route to destinations including South Africa.
The appeal aligns with the ‘Regional Migrant Response Plan for the Horn of Africa to Yemen and Southern Africa, 2024,’ encompassing life-saving aid, protection services, voluntary repatriation, addressing root causes of migration, sustainable reintegration, livelihood opportunities, and bolstering partnerships and coordination. Despite prior appeals, the plan remains critically underfunded, highlighting the urgent imperative for robust support to safeguard the lives and well-being of vulnerable migrants and host communities.