Mending the Pieces: The Quest for Safety for Migrants in Yemen

Aden, Yemen – In the heart of Aden, Yemen, the plight of migrants like Suad* reveals a harsh reality faced by many. At just 25 years old, Suad made the life-altering decision to embark on a perilous journey from her small Ethiopian village. Supported by her family, who sought to escape the clutches of poverty, she set her sights on the Gulf countries, drawn in by smugglers’ promises of a better future just a few days away. 

After departing from the coast of Djibouti, she embarked on a journey aboard a flimsy boat navigating turbulent waters. Despite her family’s sacrifice to pay the smugglers for a safe passage, Suad endured countless days and nights on the vessel, facing fierce winds and hunger.

Finally, when she stepped off the boat onto solid ground, Suad felt a flicker of hope as she began her journey toward safety. However, as she walked for days across the harsh desert, that hope began to fade under the weight of fear and uncertainty. 

Despite enduring a decade of conflict, Yemen continues to serve as a transit point for countless migrants who share a common goal: to support their families back home. However, many, like Suad, remain unaware of the ongoing conflict that has engulfed the country for close to a decade. In 2024, over 16,000 migrants arrived in Yemen, undeterred by the harsh living conditions and the risks of trafficking and gender-based violence. 

For Suad, the journey was particularly challenging. After several unsuccessful attempts to hitch a ride, she was forced to spend weeks walking from Al Makha to Al Hodeidah. Along the way, she faced numerous threats, including violence that left her feeling vulnerable and fearful. Upon finally reaching Sana’a, the smugglers forced Suad and other migrants to stay in a small den, isolated from the outside world, as they waited for news to travel further. 

After a couple of months in Sana’a, the smugglers coerced Suad into marrying a Yemeni man to secure her stay in the country. “In the beginning, I felt so scared to share my life with a foreign man whose words I couldn’t even understand,” she recalls. The two had a son and daughter, and when her husband received an opportunity to work in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Suad dedicated herself fully to caring for their children. 

With great effort, Suad managed to reach her family in their isolated village, only to learn of her parents’ sudden deaths. Though devastated by the news, she felt a sense of relief in having found shelter with a man who provided protection for her and her children from the dangers outside. 

Unfortunately, her sense of security was short-lived. Her husband discovered he had a debilitating illness and soon passed away. Left with no means to care for her children, Suad took on house-to-house cleaning and looked for support wherever she could. Determined to return home to see her last surviving brother, she had to carefully navigate the financial and logistical challenges involved in making the journey back. 

“I don't have the words to describe how horrible the experience is for migrants trying to reach Yemen and those trying to leave, facing the constant risk of trafficking and exploitation,” Suad shares. Unlike many other migrants, she and her children were still in good health, but her passport had been reduced to ashes in a fire. 

After that difficult experience, Suad decided to embark on a 10-day journey to Aden on foot. Ultimately, she arrived at the Migrant Response Point (MRP), managed by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), where migrants receive essential protection services. 

When Suad arrived at the MRP in Aden, her tears revealed more than words could tell. “After enduring so much suffering, all I want is to reunite with my brother,” she confesses. With the support of doctors at IOM’s clinic, she received emergency assistance tailored to her needs. After assessing their needs and health condition, migrants with heightened vulnerabilities like Suad are referred to the Community-Based Care (CBC) for specialized support. 

To facilitate the safe return of migrants, IOM arranges regular flights as part of its Voluntary Humanitarian Return (VHR) programme, ensuring that migrants have access to the necessary travel documents through ongoing collaboration with authorities. Before their return, migrants receive medical screenings, awareness-raising sessions, basic travel kits, food, and accommodation. So far in 2024, over 4,000 migrants have been assisted to safely return home from Yemen. 

Dekra Othman, a caseworker who welcomes migrants on their first visit to the MRP, emphasizes the importance of this support: “The MRP is like a home where everyone does their utmost to provide migrants with a safe environment, enabling them to recover and prepare for their journey home.” 

In her role, she assists migrants with the registration process and refers them to health services based on individual assessments. Many of the migrants she encounters have endured atrocities and faced experiences of gender-based violence, particularly women, which makes it incredibly challenging for them to open up and seek help.

“Many migrants arrive at the center struggling to speak due to the weight of their experiences,” says Dekra. “However, with the right support and care, they begin to find their voices again.” 

* The name has been changed for protection reasons. 

IOM’s protection services in Yemen are funded by EU Humanitarian Aid (ECHO) and the United States Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM). 

Together with 48 other humanitarian and development organizations and governments, IOM coordinates the Regional Migrant Response Plan for the Horn of Africa, Yemen and Southern Africa (MRP) to respond to the urgent humanitarian needs of migrants along the Eastern Route. Although MRP partners appealed for USD 112 million, the appeal remains severely underfunded. 

This story was written by Abeer Alhasani, Communications and Translation Assistant with IOM Yemen.