IMPACT OF COVID-19 MOVEMENT RESTRICTIONS ON MIGRANTS ALONG THE EASTERN CORRIDOR Report 15 | as of 31 May 2021

IOM Regional Office for East and Horn of Africa Publication: 22 June 2021

A health worker stands at the entrance of the IOM-supported mother and child health clinic (MCH) in Garowe, Somalia with a thermometer to check incoming patients for COVID-19 symptoms. © IOM 2020/Tobin Jones

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 outbreak has restricted global mobility, whilst heightening the risk of exploitation of vulnerable populations. This report provides a snapshot of the COVID-19 epidemiological situation and mobility restrictions, and of the current migration trends along the Eastern Corridor migration route, in addition to an analysis of the impact that movement restrictions have had in , , Somalia, and Yemen. Moreover, it provides information on the main protection concerns for migrants and assistance provided, and COVID-19 risk mitigation measures. This report utilizes data collected through IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) Flow Monitoring Points (FMPs), Migrant Response Centres (MRCs),1 Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR) data, as well as anecdotal information provided by IOM team members working in the region.

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL UPDATE AND RESPONSE TO THE OUTBREAK

Incidence Trend of Confirmed COVID-19 Cases as of 31 May 2021

300,000300,000300,000

Ethiopia

250,000250,000250,000 Djibouti Ethiopia Somalia Yemen

Confirmed cases 11,533 271,541 14,662 6,742 200,000200,000200,000

Deaths 154 4,165 769 1,321

150,000150,000150,000 Recoveries 11,369 238,734 6,764 -

Active cases 10 28,642 7,129 -

100,000100,000100,000 Source: Ministry of Health Official Reports, World Health Organization (WHO)

50,00050,00050,000 Somalia Djibouti Yemen 000 Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May 13 Jul 2020 13 Jul 13 Jul 2020 13 Jul 13 Jan 2021 13 Jan 13 Jan 2021 13 Jan 13 Jun 2020 13 Jun 2020 13 Feb 2021 13 Feb 13 Feb 2021 13 Feb 13 Sep 2020 13 Sep 13 Sep 2020 13 Sep 13 2020Apr 13 2021Apr 13 2020Apr 13 2021Apr 13 Oct 2020 13 Oct 2020 13 2020Mar 13 2020Aug 13 2021Mar 13 2020Mar 13 2020Aug 13 2021Mar 13 May 2020 13 May 2020 13 May 2021 13 Dec 2020 13 Dec 2020 13 Nov 2020 2020 13 Nov 2020 2021

1 Migration Response Centres (MRCs) are situated along key migration routes, where they fill critical gaps by providing direct assistance, including food and temporary shelter, information and service referrals to migrants on the move. MRCs bring together key partners to facilitate the identification of migrants in vulnerable situations, and ensure that they receive appropriate, immediate and longer-term support. Eight MRCs are currently operational in the Horn of Africa: Obock (Djibouti), Hargeisa, Bossaso (Somalia), Semera, Metema, Dire Dawa, Togochale and Moyale (Ethiopia). CONTACT Regional Data Hub (RDH), IOM Regional Office for East and Horn of Africa: For more information: [email protected] ronairobi.iom.int/regional-data-hub-rdh COVID-19 Impact on Migration along the Eastern Corridor in May 2021

Najran KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA Alrko Total arrivals in Yemen Manfed Alwadeaa 489 Sa'ada ! Arrivals in Yemen Al Jawf N/A Return movements (rom the ingdom (verified) Amran Hajjah of Saudi Arabia) Hadramaut Departures from Mareero (unverified) Amanat Al Godoria Asimah ! Sanaa Marib Stranded migrants Saleef Al Mahwit H! YEMEN Fontehero! Sana'a 2,697 ! Ras Isaa Marine Terminal 32,700 Entries into country Obock Shabwah Ash Shihr PK9! ! Al-Hudaydah Badaf Dhamar Raymah Djibouti Mukalla H! Al Hudaydah Al Bayda Al-Khabyah Kalakanley ! Ber Ali ! Ibb ! ! ! Tajamo Sharj Holl Holl Loyada Eyn Bamabad ! ! Al-Falahein Ar Ali Lowyacado Al Dhale'e Oussa Abyan ! Sabieh ERITREA Zeylac !! 169 Guelileh Taizz ! ed Sea Dawale Lahj

Aden Aden Bure ! Al-Aarah 320 Afar ! DJIBOUTI ! Gulf of Semera ! Obock !! ! Aden 890 H! Spontaneous Spontaneous 198 ! ! 900 arrivals arrivals ! Mareero ! ($290 Approximate ! ! ! ! ! cost of the journey) Elayo Bosasso 6,188 ! 4,463 300 Awdal (4,434 from the Harirad ingdom of Saudi ! Berbera Arabia and 29 voluntary Sanaag humanitarian Wajaale Woqooyi returns (VHR) Teferi Ber Bari from Yemen) Galbeed Tog Wujali Hargeisa ! Dire Dawa ! Burao Farawayne Harari Bali Gubadle Togdheer ETHIOPIA 1,538 Oromia Guumays Ina Guuhaa ! Sool Duruqsi SOMALIA LEGEND: ! Buuhoodle Nugaal Point of Entry (PoE) type: IOM activity: Eyl Land Border Point ! FMP Sea Crossing Point/Port MRC

Migration route - Land Somali Galdogob PoE operational status: Migration route - Sea Closed for entry and exit DISCAIM This map is for illustration purposesIndian Open for entry and exit H! Capital only. amesMudug and boundaries on this map doOcean not imply official endorsement or acceptance by IOM. ! To w n Open only to returning nationals Cabudwaaq ! The arrows are for illustration purposes only, and and residents Main road are not indicatie of actual moements Open for commercial traffic only Admin 1 Galgaduud Admin 0 Ballanballe ¯ Unknown 0 100 Km

Impact of COVID-19 Movement Restrictions on Migrants Along the Eastern Corridor as of 31 May 2021 2 COVID-19 Epidemiological Situation As of 31 May 2021, the number of COVID-19 cases along the Eastern Corridor stood at 304,478. Ethiopia continued recording the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases (89% of total cases). The country distributed over 1.8 million vaccine doses out of the 2.2 million doses obtained through the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) initiative by the end of May. Following Ethiopia are Somalia (5% of total cases) and Djibouti (4% of total cases), while Yemen cases represented 2% of the total cases. As of 31 May 2021, the number of COVID-19 related deaths along the Eastern Corridor stood at 6,409, the majority of which were recorded in Ethiopia (65% of total deaths). Yemen holds the highest case fatality rate (CFR) at approximately 19.6%, compared to Djibouti (CFR 1.3%), Ethiopia (CFR 1.5%) and Somalia (CFR 5.2%). This is much higher than the global average CFR of 2.1% and is largely attributable to the challenges of accessing a health care system which has been decimated by years of war. The extent of the impact of COVID-19 in Yemen is largely unknown given limited testing capacities, reduced health seeking behavior, and growing public skepticism around COVID-19. A total of 10,000 vaccine doses arrived at Sanaa airport on 31 May 2021. The World Health Organization (WHO) will begin vaccination campaigns in northern Yemen, where de facto authorities have not reported any infection or fatality figures since May 2020.

COVID-19 Mobility Restrictions Between the reopening of the country’s air, land and sea borders on 17 July 2020 and the end of May 2021, the Djiboutian health authorities recorded a 4.33% COVID-19 positivity rate and a 99.78% recovery rate among all incoming passengers screened at the various Points of Entry (PoEs). The current COVID-19-related restrictions imposed in Ethiopia have been maintained throughout May 2021 given the continued surge in positive cases across the country. Meanwhile, all flights between Somalia and Kenya were suspended from 11 May until at least early August, with exceptions for all United Nations (UN) and medical flights. Due to electoral processes in May, tighter movement restrictions were also imposed at the borders with Djibouti and Ethiopia. In Yemen, there are currently no COVID-19-related mobility restrictions in the southern governorates. Yemenis returning from Saudi Arabia and Oman continue to use Al Wadeeah and Shahin land border points, respectively, provided that they hold a negative COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.

DJIBOUTI SITUATION

Migrant Flows Observed Through Djibouti and at Yemen Points of Entry • Migrants’ movements into the country reduced for the third consecutive month, with 6,188 entries observed in May 2021 from Djibouti’s western borders, which is 3% lower than the entries observed in April, though continue to be higher than what was observed during the earlier months of the pandemic, and no entries were tracked in Djibouti during May 2020. The entries include around 27% adult females, nearly 67% adult males, and 6% children (which is a decrease from 8% in April). Similar to April, but contrary to previous months, when almost no Somali nationals entered Djibouti, 12 Somali nationals were also tracked upon entry to Djibouti. • 320 migrant arrivals from Djibouti were tracked in Yemen near Al-Aarah FMP in Lahj governorate, all of whom were Ethiopian nationals. A majority of the migrants tracked were men (83%), 5% were boys, 12% were women, and no girls were tracked.

Migrant Movements through Djibouti to Yemen (January 2020 - May 2021)

10,000 9,000 9,000 7,742 8,000 7,138 6,514 7,000 6,406 6,188 6,000 5,089 5,000 4,534 4,585

4,000 3,278 2,788 2,860 3,000 2,113 2,203 2,298 2,350 2,000 592 825 670 708 1,000 452 534 502 382 320 195 504 130 37 15 257 0 85 0 0 Jan-20 Feb-20 Mar-20 Apr-20 May-20 Jun-20 Jul-20 Aug-20 Sep-20 Oct-20 Nov-20 Dec-20 Jan-21 Feb-21 Mar-21 Apr-21 May-21

Migrants entering Djibouti Yemen arrivals from Djibouti

Impact of COVID-19 Movement Restrictions on Migrants Along the Eastern Corridor as of 31 May 2021 3 • Spontaneous return movements from Yemen to Djibouti continued in May 2021 with a total of 900 Ethiopian migrants, which is a decrease from the 1,479 returns reported in April. A vast majority of the returns were men (95%), returning from Yemen to the coast of Obock; this represents a 39% decrease compared to April 2021. Since May 2020, IOM tracked a total of 13,601 spontaneous returns of Ethiopian migrants.

Migrant Protection and Assistance • As of 20 May 2021, 2,697 migrants on their way to the Arabian Peninsula were stranded in Djibouti and had gathered in 10 spontaneous sites located along the migration route; most migrants were stranded in the region and this was the largest number of stranded migrants recorded since the beginning of the year. Immediate needs included water, food, hygiene kits and non-food items (NFIs). • 182 new migrants were registered at the Obock MRC in May 2021, which is an almost three-fold increase from April. • During this month, a group of 140 migrants were returned to Ethiopia as part of IOM’s AVR programme. Registrations at the MRC in Obock and AVR Services Requested and Provided (October 2020 - May 2021)

1,000 919 857

800 639 600

400 182 173 131 171 200 70

0 Oct-20 Nov-20 Dec-20 Jan-21 Feb-21 Mar-21 Apr-21 May-21

Registrations AVR requested by migrant Actual AVR provided

SOMALIA SITUATION

Migrant Flows Observed Through Somalia and at Yemen Points of Entry • Migrant arrivals to Yemen from Somalia stood at 169 in May 2021; a 63% decrease from the 460 arrivals recorded in April 2021. In keeping with historical trends, the majority of the migrants tracked upon arrival in Yemen from Somalia were Ethiopian migrants (65%) with the remaining being Somali nationals (35%). Most arrivals were adult males (65%), while 33% were adult females (up from 18% in April), and 2% were children (down from 18% in April). Unlike reports from previous months, no unaccompanied migrant children (UMCs) were tracked in May. • Unverified reports received by IOM stated that there was a 56% decrease in migrants’ departures from Mareero, a small town 15 km east of Bossaso, compared to April, with only 890 migrants boarding boats to Yemen. Following an Al-Shabaab attack against the Bossaso prison in March 2021, the Puntland police has established security bases near Mareero. • Migrant entries into Somalia remained stable with only around 1% increase between April (1,518) and May (1,538). Over 94% were Ethiopian nationals, while 3% (50) Yemeni nationals were also tracked, intending to return to Yemen from Somalia. In addition, 37 Tanzanians (2%) were tracked in Somalia, which is a departure from trends in the past. • Similar to what observed in Djibouti, spontaneous movements from Yemen to Somalia are occurring, and 181 movements were tracked upon arrival in Bossaso in May, consisting of 49% males and 51% females. 174 were returning , and 7 were Yemeni nationals. Moreover, 17 spontaneous arrivals were recorded in Berbera (13 males and 4 females), including 2 returning Somalis and 15 Yemeni nationals. Migrant Movements through Somalia to Yemen (January 2020 - May 2021)

8,000 6,836 6,607 6,593 6,651 7,000 6,359 6,012 6,000 5,456 5,486 5,110 4,909 5,056 5,000 4,404 4,006 3,799 4,000 3,368

3,000 2,448 1,980 1,675 2,000 1,640 1,533 1,518 1,538 1,158 748 1,000 585 650 749 315 504 460 0 186 165 169 0 Jan-20 Feb-20 Mar-20 Apr-20 May-20 Jun-20 Jul-20 Aug-20 Sep-20 Oct-20 Nov-20 Dec-20 Jan-21 Feb-21 Mar-21 Apr-21 May-21

Migrants entering Somalia Yemen arrivals from Somalia Note: Figures for migrants’ entries into Somalia for January 2020 are “0” because of the temporary closure of Flow Monitoring Points in Somalia. Small changes were made to migrants’ entries for March and April 2021 due to data cleaning.

Impact of COVID-19 Movement Restrictions on Migrants Along the Eastern Corridor as of 31 May 2021 4 Migrant Protection and Assistance • IOM estimates that around 300 migrants continue to be stranded in and around Bossaso, with few options available to continue their journey or return home. • On 23 May, a total of 142 Ethiopian migrants walking along the side of the tarmac road were found and detained at the Bossaso-Gardo checkpoint. These migrants were then taken to the Bossaso central police station for a security screening after which they were all released. • On 24 May, a female Ethiopian migrant was found dead in her room in Waaciye town of Puntland’s Karkaar region, where she was working for a local family who had gone on vacation. The Ethiopian Community Centre (ECC) sent a team to Waaciye town and brought her corpse back to Bossaso for an autopsy which showed no sign of criminal injuries. The deceased was buried in Bossaso. • A total of 381 migrants were registered at the Bossaso (308) and Hargeisa (73) MRCs; a 24% increase from April. Unlike traditional trends, reduced migrant movements continued throughout May 2021 due to increased security and military presence near Bossaso and Mareero. In addition, the Somaliland Immigration Department has continued to deport Ethiopian migrants who do not have travel documentation, and this has been another deterrent. • On 2 May, a group of 12 vulnerable male migrants, all Ethiopian nationals, approached the MRC in Bossaso for AVR assistance. These migrants had been forcibly returned to Bossaso by the Omani Government after being in detention for varying periods of time. Additionally, eight men, five women and five children were also forcibly returned to Somalia from Saudi Arabia through Mogadishu airport. • A total of 83 AVR requests were received at the MRCs in Bossaso (52) and Hargeisa (31). Yet, no AVR movements took place during this month.

Registrations at the MRCs in Bossaso and Hargeisa (October 2020 - May 2021)

350 321 308 300 251 250 225 200 135 117 123 150 181 111 73 100 80 56 57 42 101 50 97 0 Oct-20 Nov-20 Dec-20 Jan-21 Feb-21 Mar-21 Apr-21 May-21

Registrations at MRC Bosasso Registrations at MRC Hargeisa

ETHIOPIA SITUATION

Migrant Flows, and Protection and Detention Concerns • The returns of Ethiopian nationals from Saudi Arabia to Addis Ababa increased by a slight 7% between April (4,159) and May (4,434). While no returns took place in May 2020 due to COVID-19-related flight suspensions, return figures from May 2021 represent a 63% decrease from the 11,886 returns recorded in May 2019. • Tigrayan returnees continue to arrive in significant numbers from Saudi Arabia, roughly 40% of all arrivals. Many areas of the Tigray Regional State remain inaccessible due to ongoing hostilities, and other areas are suffering from disruptions of basic services and food insecurity. Many returnees who are unable to return to Tigray might need temporary accommodation and services in Addis Ababa.

Returns of Ethiopian Nationals from Saudi Arabia Electronically Registered by IOM

14,000 12,668 11,886 12,000 11,127 10,919 11,141 10,112 9,998 9,717 10,005 9,689 10,000 8,943 8,963 8,384 8,560 8,000 8,801

6,000 4,427 4,159 4,434 3,618 4,000 2,199 2,757 2,000 962 956 869 387 613 0 0 0 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

2019 2020 2021

Impact of COVID-19 Movement Restrictions on Migrants Along the Eastern Corridor as of 31 May 2021 5 YEMEN SITUATION

Migrant Flows Observed in Yemen • Overall, 489 migrant arrivals to Yemen from the Horn of Africa were recorded in May 2021; a 42% increase from April and a significant 103% decrease compared to May 2020. Contrary to previous months the majority travelled from Djibouti (65%), with the remaining travelling from Somalia (35%); the arrivals from Somalia decreased by 63% while the arrivals from Djibouti decreased by 16%. • Most migrant arrivals were Ethiopian nationals (88%), with the remainder being Somali nationals (12%). • The majority of the migrants were adult males (77%), while 19% were adult females, and 4% were children (down from 11% in April). No UMCs were tracked during this month. Migrant Arrivals to Yemen from the Horn of Africa (January 2020 - May 2021) 8,000 6,836 7,000 6,012 6,000 5,089 5,110 5,000

4,000

3,000 2,788 2,113 1,675 2,000 1,640 1,533 1,158 749 748 825 708 1,000 504 502 670 315 452 460 320 85 37 130 0 534 592 585 650 382 169 0 257 186 165 Jan-20 Feb-20 Mar-20 Apr-20 May-20 Jun-20 Jul-20 Aug-20 Sep-20 Oct-20 Nov-20 Dec-20 Jan-21 Feb-21 Mar-21 Apr-21 May-21

Yemen arrivals from Djibouti Yemen arrivals from Somalia

• Due to difficulties faced by migrants upon arrival in Yemen with their inability to move onwards towards Saudi Arabia, as well as the protection environment and living conditions in Yemen, many of them often opt to return back to the Horn of Africa. Since March 2020, a total of 16,370 migrants have made this perilous return journey back to Djibouti (13,601) and to Somalia (2,769), using the same network of smugglers utilized on the journey towards the Arabian Peninsula. • DTM Yemen could not track any returning migrants from Saudi Arabia in May 2021 due to the inaccessibility to the FMP at the Saudi Arabia-Yemen border. Spontaneous Returns from Yemen (March 2020 - May 2021) 2,500 2,343

2,000

1,558 1,479 1,500

1,071 1,061 1,047 941 1,227 1,000 858 900

764 704 500 269 243 249 270 202 230 189 163 141 156 21 109 94 3 39 0 0 0 39 Mar-20 Apr-20 May-20 Jun-20 Jul-20 Aug-20 Sep-20 Oct-20 Nov-20 Dec-20 Jan-21 Feb-21 Mar-21 Apr-21 May-21

Yemen to Djibouti Yemen to Somalia

Migrant Protection and Assistance • IOM estimates that approximately 32,000 migrants continue to be stranded in Yemen. • The number of migrants in detention cannot be confirmed given that access to detention facilities has not been possible, especially in northern Yemen. Since the fire incident at the Immigration, Passport and Naturalization Authority (IPNA) holding facility in Sana’a on 7 March 2021, IOM has not provided humanitarian assistance within the facility. To that end, the verification of potential detentions or forced returns has been difficult. • Migrants’ living conditions across the country continue deteriorating due to a reduction in support from the local community since the beginning of the pandemic and widespread discrimination that prevents them from accessing essential services such as health care. • Thousands of stranded migrants have approached IOM’s Aden MRC asking for return assistance to Ethiopia through VHR. These VHR flights resumed in March after months of disruption, and a total of 29 migrants were returned to Ethiopia on 6 May 2021. These operations have restarted but challenges remain due to delays in the process of verification of nationality.

Impact of COVID-19 Movement Restrictions on Migrants Along the Eastern Corridor as of 31 May 2021 6 ANNEX 1 | 2021 MRC REGISTRATION DATA

MRCs Jan-21 Feb-21 Mar-21 Apr-21 May-21 MRC Total Bossaso 181 111 321 251 308 1,172 Dire Dawa 0 0 0 0 6 6 Hargeisa 225 97 56 57 73 508 Metema 0 0 72 80 15 167 Moyale - - 187 230 44 461 Obock 173 131 171 70 182 727 Semera 0 0 71 33 34 138 Togochale 31 126 14 61 49 281 Monthly Total 610 465 892 782 711 3,460

ANNEX 2 | STATUS OF POINTS OF ENTRY IN THE EAST AND HORN OF AFRICA REGION AND YEMEN

Saudi Arabia Regional Data Hub | RDH |"n |"n |"n |"n Yemen |"n "n |"n |"n|" Eritrea |"n |"n |"n N |"n" |"n |"n |"n|"n |"n |"n|"n|"n|"n |"n |"n |"n "n |"n |"n |"n |"n |"n |"n "n |"n|"n Djibouti |"n |"n | |"n|"n"|n |"n |"n |"n |"n |"n "n Abyei |"n |"n |"n|" |"n |"n|"n |"n n |"n |"n |"n |"n|"n "n |" |"n |"n |"n |"n|"n|" |"n |"n |"n "n"n"n|"n |"n |"n |"||" Ethiopia |"n |"n |"n |"n South |"n |"n |"n |"n |"n |"n|"n |"n |"n Ilemi |"n|"n "n|"n" |"n |"n Triangle |"n |" |"n |"n "|n |"n |"n "n |"n |"n|" Somalia |"n|"n|"n|"n|"n|"n|" |"n" |"n |"n |"n |"n |"n "n |"n |" Uganda |"n|"n Kenya "n |"n |"n|"n "n |"n |"n |"n |" "nn |"n |"n "n |"n " "n |" |""n |"n |"n |"n |" |"n |"n |"n nn "n"n|"n "n |"n|"n |"|" |"n|"|""n |"n|"n|"n "n"n |"n |"|"n |"n |" |"n |"n |"|" |"n |"n" |" |"n n |"n "n |"n|" |" |"n|"n"|n n Rwanda |"n |"n"n|"n "n|"n |"n "n |"n |"|"n"|"n|"n"n|"n"|"n |"n" |"n|""n |"|"n |"|"n|"n| |"n |"n|"n|"n |"n"|"n |"n"|"n|" |"n |"n|"n |"n |"n "n |"n |"n"|n |"n "n"n "n n|"n" |"n"|n n n"|"n|"n" United |"n n " "n |"n|"|"n |"n|"n|"n ""n n n " |"n" Republic of "n "n"n""n " | |"n |"n |"n |"n n n Tanzania |"n " ""n "n "n |"n |"n|"n" "n |"n|"n |"n "n |"n |"n|"n Burundi "n"n"n |"n "n"n |"n |"n "n |" |"n |"n |" |"n|"n |"n "n |"n "n "n |"n |""n"n"n "n |"n "n |" |"n |"n Esri, Garmin, GEBCO, NOAA NGDC, and other contributors

Status of international flights* Status of other border points Esri,*Details Garmin, of the GEBCO, travel NOAA restriction NGDC, can and be other found contributors on IATA website: https://www.iata.org/ Not Restrictive |" Sea Border Point

Partially Restrictive "n Land Border Point SOURCE: International Air Transport Association (IATA) " Closed for entry and exit Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) Totally Restrictive " Partial closure DATE: 31 May 2021 Not available " Open for entry and exit DISCLAIMER: These maps are for illustration Disputed Areas purposes only. Names and boundaries do not imply " Unknown o‹cial endorsement or acceptance by IOM.

Countries East and Horn of Africa

Impact of COVID-19 Movement Restrictions on Migrants Along the Eastern Corridor as of 31 May 2021 7