- Data published by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) shows a nearly three-fourths decline in-migration from the East and Horn of Africa regions towards Gulf Council Countries during 2020.
- COVID-19 led to a 73 per cent drop in migrants from the Horn of Africa traveling to the Gulf countries through Yemen, according to the new study released by IOM.
Data published by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) shows a nearly three-fourths decline in migration from the East and Horn of Africa regions towards Gulf Council Countries during 2020.COVID-19 led to a 73 per cent drop in migrants from the Horn of Africa travelling to the Gulf countries through Yemen, according to the new study released by IOM
The UN Migration Agency said that this trend was significant as African migration through Yemen to the Gulf of Arabia has been high for the past four years—despite security risks in Yemen. The number of migrants crossing via Yemen from the Horn dropped from 138,213 in 2019 to 37,537 in 2020. Despite the fall in arrivals, the risks rose with more detention, exploitation and forced transfers.
COVID-19 border closures also left thousands of workers stranded As of September 2020, some 3,000 migrants from the East and Horn of Africa was stranded. The UN migration agency is collaborating with IGAD countries to develop a strategy to respond to the needs of migrants and other vulnerable mobile groups.
