The head of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), affiliated with the United Nations (UN), has expressed concern about the rising number of female and child migrants from the Horn of Africa taking the Eastern Migration Route to Gulf countries via Yemen.
Antonio Vitorino, IOM Director General, informed “The Associated Press” that in the past year alone, there has been a 64% hike in this dangerous voyage from Ethiopia, Somalia and Djibouti to seek better livelihoods. And more surprisingly, larger groups of women and children are traveling alone.
Climate change is a major factor driving the rise in migration, Vitorino said. In the past, men would usually make the arduous trek across the desert on their own, leaving their families behind.
“The pressure continues to increase,” he said while in Kenya for a $84 million appeal to support over one million migrants traveling through Yemen.
Those traveling these routes can be subject to criminal gangs, and suffer violence and exploitation. Something many are unaware of before they begin their journeys.
In some cases, the IOM can provide assistance and return migrants to their countries of origin. Last year they helped 2,700 Ethiopians do just that.
There is also increasing migration from West Africa to Europe, and those detained in Libya. Whether in official or unofficial detention centers – are of global concern.
The UN organization doesn’t have access to the unofficial ones, where reports suggest there is widespread abuse. As such they are doing their best to get more migrants into voluntary return programs and finding political cooperation from Libya. This is so that they can reduce the number of people in detention by providing flights out of the country.
Vitorino hopes to address these causes of increased migration. Few have left their homes due to climate change and war.
He finished by stressing that migrating legally is much safer than illegal routes. Although migrating legally is complicated and cumbersome.
