African migrants in Yemen face a humanitarian crisis
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), African migrants stranded in Yemen because of the country's closed border with Saudi Arabia are facing an unfolding humanitarian crisis, worsened by dwindling humanitarian aid supplies. The shortage of aid is making it increasingly difficult for migrants to survive.
Every year, thousands of people leave their homes in the Horn of Africa, hoping to find a better life on the wealthy Arabian Peninsula. But instead of work and security, they encounter new trials: a dangerous sea, brutal smugglers and closed borders. Yemen, torn by war and poverty, becomes for them not a gateway to the future but a trap with no way out. They arrive with hope and end up on the streets without shelter, food or prospects — in a country that cannot even feed its own people. Such is the price of a journey driven by despair.
Abdulaziz Mohammed, a migrant from Ethiopia, arrived in Aden in southern Yemen about 15 days ago after a risky sea journey with smugglers. He hoped to reach Saudi Arabia in search of a better life, but his journey was halted at a heavily guarded border. "I tried to cross the border with Saudi Arabia, but now the border is heavily guarded. The military has closed the border, and the police have tightened security. We cannot cross the border, so I am here in Yemen. We have nowhere to stay. We search for food on the streets and sleep under trees," he said.
Abdulaziz is one of thousands of migrants who continue to make the journey from the Horn of Africa to Yemen, despite the risks at sea, smuggling networks and security problems. The IOM reports that more than 110,000 migrants arrived in Yemen from January to the end of July. "Migrants in Yemen face many risks, including trafficking, exploitation, detention, violence and various forms of abuse. Many rely on smuggling networks to facilitate their movement, which exposes them to dangers and risks that are not limited to border crossings but continue to affect them throughout their journey," said Mohamad Khatoum, IOM Protection Programme Manager.
But arriving in Yemen does not mean they can continue their journey. Many find themselves stranded without shelter, income or basic services in a country already facing a deep humanitarian crisis. "This migration creates serious economic, political, geographical and security problems. In particular, in Yemen, due to the war and the difficult economic situation, an additional burden is placed on the host country. We all know what situation we are in: international organisations are absent, and there is no assistance for internally displaced persons. So they undoubtedly represent an additional burden," said Mansour Al-Jaradi, a humanitarian activist.
As CCTV+ reports, African migrants in Yemen have found themselves in a vicious circle where hope for a better life has turned into a new misfortune. The closed border with Saudi Arabia has turned the country into a giant transit camp where people are dying from hunger and lack of medical care. The international community must pay attention to this crisis before it becomes yet another forgotten tragedy on the world map.
