Nairobi – The European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), and the governments of France and Norway have provided a combined total of USD 3.6 million to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), to assist thousands of migrants in vulnerable situations and their host communities along the ‘Eastern Route’, which runs from the Horn of Africa to Yemen and the Arabian Peninsula. The funds will be channeled through the Regional Migrant Response Plan for the Horn of Africa and Yemen 2022 consisting of over 40 humanitarian and development organizations, coordinated by IOM. 

$1.05M (1M Euros) from ECHO will help to strengthen much needed evidence on human mobility along the Eastern Route under the Horn of Africa Humanitarian Implementation Plan 2022, implemented by IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM). France and Norway are providing $1.050M US Dollars (€1M Euros) and $1.5M US dollars (15 Million Norwegian Kroner) respectively, to ensure protection and humanitarian assistance to vulnerable migrants in Yemen and the Horn of Africa, including supporting voluntary humanitarian return flights from Yemen to Ethiopia, assisting migrants involuntarily returned from the Kingdom of Saudi to Ethiopia and Somalia and  building evidence, partnerships, and coordination to enhance the humanitarian response and migration management throughout the Eastern Migration Route by IOM and MRP partners. 

Each year, tens of thousands of migrants in the region leave countries like Ethiopia, Somalia and others in search of work to escape poverty, the effects of climate change and conflict. Many hope to find job opportunities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia or elsewhere on the Arabian Peninsula. They take dangerous journeys through the Horn of Africa, across the Gulf of Aden to conflict-affected Yemen where they face life-threatening situations and are at grave risk of exploitation. Many have lost their lives along the way due to lack of water, shelter and medical care while others are exposed to human rights violations including arbitrary arrest and detention, torture, and sexual violence. In addition to being subject to stigma, discrimination and xenophobia, migrants continuously face exploitation by traffickers and smugglers.  

Migrants travelling through conflict-affected Yemen are often stranded and lack access to services to meet their basic needs. The number of stranded migrants along the Eastern Route, living in situations of heightened vulnerability, and at risk of exploitation, violence and abuse, mostly in Yemen, Somalia, and Djibouti, is expected to increase in 2022. 

Through the MRP, IOM and partners have been able to address the array of challenges faced by migrants, returnees, and host communities in the region. Though much has been achieved, the deteriorating situation and heightened vulnerability of migrants in transit and destination countries as well as the situation of returning migrants along the Eastern Route is exacerbating already significant needs. 

Through the MRP appeal of USD 67M, IOM and MRP partners set out to reach nearly half a million vulnerable migrants in the region with life saving humanitarian assistance. MRP partners have so far received approximately 15% of the 2022 MRP financial appeal of USD67 million (including the current funding from the EU, France and Norway).

“IOM is grateful to ECHO, France and Norway for their contribution to the MRP. With this funding, IOM and partners will be able to support the immediate humanitarian needs of thousands of migrants, returnees and host communities in vulnerable situations, and help them return home in a safe, orderly and humane manner and reintegrate into their communities,” said Mohammed Abdiker, IOM Regional Director for the East and Horn of Africa.

The funds will also help the many communities of origin and host communities who are responding to the challenges of migrants in transit and trying to return home. The funds will help IOM and partners to strengthen the capacity of governments in the region to provide humanitarian assistance and protection interventions, and further improve the coordination of responses, enhance evidence base and strengthen migration management on the Eastern Route.  

For media inquiries and interview requests, please contact IOM RO Media & Communication Unit at RONairobiMCU@iom.int  or Yvonne Ndege, Regional Communications and Spokesperson, East and Horn of Africa on yndege@iom.int  / Phone: +254797735977.