Regional Migrant Response Plan for the Horn of Africa and Quarterly Updates: Q4 | October - December 2020

Ethiopian migrants crossing | Photo credit: Alexander Bee/IOM 2020

28,047 2,633 52,046 161,928 Migrants entered Djibouti and Migrants returned to , Migrants reached through the Migrants reached through the between October Somalia and Yemen from the support provided by MRP support provided by MRP and December 2020 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia partners between October partners in 2020 between October and and December 2020 December 2020

Situation overview

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted migrant reach locations. Migrants continue to rely heavily on humanitarian movements within the region, resulting in a decrease in bi- assistance. In 2020, an exponential demand for safe and voluntary directional movements along the Eastern route. Despite the return was noted in Yemen due to a lack of other durable reduction in movements along the Eastern route, migrants solutions for migrants. continue to be amongst the most marginalized and vulnerable population groups along the migratory route as they face In Djibouti, during the reporting period, October to December significant risks of communicable diseases owing to consistent 2020 (Q4), an increasing number of migrants were tracked barriers in accessing public health services, and water and moving bi-directionally between Yemen and Djibouti compared sanitation services. Migrant workers and other populations to the previous quarter, risking their lives crossing the perilous Bal in various situations of vulnerability face restricted access to El Mandeb strait exposed to a myriad of protection risks including humanitarian assistance, decreased incomes and inability to abuse, violence and exploitation by smugglers and traffickers. This engage in cross border trade or search for jobs and opportunities return journey is arguably even more perilous for the migrants as a result of COVID-19 restrictions. In Yemen, stigmatization who are already weak and disoriented following harsh living and xenophobia against migrants is further contributing to the conditions and detention in deplorable conditions in Yemen. The risks faced. Protection risks, needs and vulnerabilities of migrants return journey is also characterized by abuse by smugglers who also worsened throughout 2020. By the end of the year over in some instances force migrants to disembark before reaching 15,000 migrants were forcibly transferred within Yemen as part the shore, while others report having been forced to cross the of localized forced returns campaigns, and an estimated 14,5001 desert on foot with little or no resources left for their return migrants were stranded and trapped in urban areas and hard to journey.

1 Estimated migrant caseload based on partners’ reports and remote monitoring activities. In Ethiopia, the Government of Ethiopia’s designated quarantine remains largely inaccessible to humanitarian actors and civilians. facilities (mostly schools and universities) since March 2020, The impact of the conflict on mobility patterns, particularly on resumed their original functions during the last quarter of return movements, needs to be closely monitored as a significant 2020. In collaboration with the development partners and the proportion of migrants on the Eastern route reportedly originate Government of Ethiopia, MRP partners shifted their support to from Tigray Regional State and may find themselves unable to Points of Entry (PoE) and are constructed temporary shelters safely return to their communities of origin. for returnees at the PoEs to conduct COVID-19 screening requirements. In Somalia, an increase in the numbers of migrants returning from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was witnessed in Q4 due to The last quarter also saw the outbreak of a conflict in Tigray the ease of restrictions by the Federal Government of Somalia Regional State with military operations led by the Ethiopian in July 2020, and the resumption of air travel. The Bari region Federal Defense Forces against the Tigray Regional Security was hit by the Cyclone Gati2 in November 2020 which affected Forces (TRSF). The result was a tense and volatile humanitarian about 180,000 people including migrants, refugees and Internally situation, with thousands of people reportedly displaced Displaced People (IDPs). Lifesaving support was provided to internally within the Tigray Regional State and beyond into the the stranded migrants in need through the Migration Response neighbouring regional states of Amhara and Afar. Displacement Centre (MRC) in Hargeisa. across borders mainly to Sudan was also noted. Tigray region

Population Movements Overview | October - December 2020 THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA ¯ OMAN

Red Sea No movements from KSA to Yemen observed during Q4 YEMEN SUDAN ASMARA SANAA ERITREA " "

2,438 195

1,628 DJIBOUTI 2,785 8Obock 8 " Semera DJIBOUTI 8 Bosasso 8,488 Hargeisa 8 8 8 ADDIS ABABA " Tog SOMALIA ETHIOPIA Wochale

Indian Ocean 19,559

SOUTH SUDAN

ILEMI TRIANGLE RMRP Countries 8 Migration Response Center

MOGADISHU 8 Migration routes* " UGANDA Return movements** KENYA * Numbers are based on the observations at the DTM Flow Monitoring Points. **Assisted with post-arrival assistance, including onward transport assistance to their communities of origin. The arrows are for illustration purposes only, and are not indicative of actual movements

"NAIROBI DISCLAIMER: This map is for illustration purposes only. Names and boundaries on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by IOM.

2 OCHA Somalia - Gati Update #5, As of 30 November 2020

MRP Quarterly Updates: Q4 | October - December 2020 2 A migrant child vaccinated by the Save the Children International staff in Somalia.| Photo credit: Save the Children International, 2020 Achievements from October to December 2020 Objective 1: To ensure humanitarian and protection assistance to vulnerable migrants in Yemen and the Horn of Africa.

52,046 956 12,120

Migrants (14,837 females and UASC (515 females and 441 People (3,155 females and 37,209 males) provided with male) assisted with Family 8,965 males) assisted with direct assistance Tracing and Reunification Psychosocial support (FTR) in Ethiopia

To effectively address the needs of migrants on the move, MRP assistance) and were tested for COVID-19. Negative COVID-19 partners continued to adapt their services to the COVID-19 cases were brought to the Djiboutian side of the border by the pandemic in Q4 through the MRCs3, Migrant Response Points, authorities to cross into Ethiopia while positive cases remained mobile teams, mobile health teams, way stations and host on site in the isolation units until they tested negative and assisted communities. During Q4, MRP partners in the affected countries to return to Ethiopia. (Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia and Yemen) identified 52,046 migrants (14,837 females and 37,209 males) in need of humanitarian In Ethiopia, no beneficiaries were assisted to return from Yemen assistance4. Those registered for various forms of assistance under the Voluntary Humanitarian Return (VHR) programme included 2,412 (75 females and 2,337 males) in Djibouti; 11,289 due to the COVID-19 movement restrictions. MRP partners (5,034 females and 6,255 males) in Ethiopia, 14,566 (7,151 (IOM, United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF), females and 7,415 males) in Somalia and 23,779 (2,577 females Save the Children (SCI) and Terre des Hommes Netherlands) and 21,202 males) in Yemen. Of the 52,046 migrants in need of provided FTR to 956 UASC (515 females and 441 males). The assistance; 1,004 were unaccompanied and separated children FTR process for the 48 UASC who remained in the shelters (UASC). was still ongoing and this will be reported in the next quarter. In addition to the FTR assistance, SCI, in consultation with local In Djibouti, within the framework of a country agreement key stakeholders, provided in-kind reintegration assistance to the between the World Food Programme (WFP) and IOM, WFP children in the form of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), exercise books, pens, school bags, clothes, shoes, food items, dignity kits, and sanitation materials. SCI conducted a vaccination Key achievements through MRCs campaign reaching out to 12,460 vulnerable migrant children (6,503 females and 5,957 males) in Ethiopia. 3,013 persons (49% females and 51% males) registered In Somalia, the high number of migrants identified in Q4 is in MRCs linked to the influx of migrants entering Somalia as well as the enhancement of mobile outreach activities. Five mobile patrols; 2,717 migrants provided with non-food items two in , three in , as well as two mobile health clinics were conducted for 14 days by the MRC Bossaso team 2,584 migrants provided with health support in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. The outreaches increased the geographical reach of direct assistance and support 2,424 migrants supported with food and water provided to stranded migrants in transit as well as in settlements assistance outside of the main urban areas such as in farming communities in Puntland where migrants engage in daily labour to support 31% of UASC provided with family reunification their onward travels. assistance In Yemen, IOM, Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and INTERSOS scaled up the provision of humanitarian assistance to migrants, continued to provide food assistance to the migrants in the with a focus on Aden where 5,000 migrants are estimated to Obock MRC as well as in the government-led quarantine site. be stranded. To this end, in November 2020, IOM collaborated Most stranded migrants had up until the end of September with a local governmental organization (Hygiene Fund) to kick been regrouping at the informal government led “Masagara” off a cleaning campaign as a cash for work (CFW) initiative to site, located at the outskirts of Obock city, waiting to return provide a small livelihood opportunity to migrants waiting for to Ethiopia. The site was closed at the beginning of October the reactivation of VHR flights in Aden. The migrants were also 2020 and 1,128 migrants (65 females and 1,063 males) were supported with NFI kits and food vouchers and the experience transferred from the Masagara site in Obock to the government- with the first group of migrants assisted made it clear that a one- led quarantine site5 in the Ali-Sabieh region. At the quarantine size assistance package cannot fit all. In view of this, INTERSOS is site, migrants received assistance (food, water, NFIs and medical currently working in redesigning the Food Rations/NFIs package

3 Seven MRCs are currently operated by national Governments, IOM, and other partners in the EHoA and they facilitate the identification of migrants in vulnerable situations, and ensure that they receive appropriate, immediate and short-term support, including direct assistance and referrals for specialised services.

4 Depending on the MRP country, the direct assistance includes Non-Food Items (NFIs), Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) NFIs, medical screening, and personal protective equipment (PPE), psychosocial support (PSS), family tracing and reunification (FTR) and referral of UASC to relevant protection services in the MRCs, MRPs, mobile outreach activities, community centres and quarantine facilities across PoEs on the Eastern route.

5 The MRP partners, IOM, World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), supported the government in setting up a quarantine facility close to the border with Ethiopia as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in May 2020.

MRP Quarterly Updates: Q4 | October - December 2020 4 to ensure that seasonality factors (e.g. warmer clothes in winter) of origin. The full extent of the returns from Saudi Arabia to and the needs of the different groups (stranded migrants vs new Somalia remains unclear. arrivals) are considered. Since the onset of the pandemic and the consequent drastic reduction of arrivals in Yemen, IOM moved As of 31 December 2020, 681 migrants on their way to the the mobile protection team from Lahj to Aden to increase Arabian Peninsula were stranded in Djibouti and had gathered assistance to migrants stranded in the city. In collaboration with in 15 spontaneous sites located along the migration route. All the communities and the INTERSOS legal network’s support, the stranded migrants were Ethiopian nationals about 90 per the mobile response teams follow the migrants’ movements in cent of them were men. In Somalia, estimates indicate that Shabwah and Hadramout governorates to ensure that they meet between 400 and 500 migrants continue to be stranded in and the migrants and provide immediate humanitarian assistance as around Bossaso, with few options available to continue their soon as the migrants move into the intervention area. journey or to return home. As a consequence of COVID-19, migrant arrivals in Yemen remained extremely low in Q4. IOM’s Mobility Flows along the Eastern Route Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) recorded approximately 4,413 arrivals (846 females and 3,567 males) compared to nearly In 2020, a total of 37,535 migrants were recorded at six Flow 30,432 in the same quarter of 2019. The Yemen arrivals came Monitoring Points (FMPs) along the southern coast of Yemen. from Somalia 2,785 and Djibouti 1,628. Most migrant arrivals This represents a 73 per cent decrease as compared to 2019, into Yemen were Ethiopian nationals (83%), while the remainder primarily because of the mobility restrictions put in place following were Somali nationals (17%). the global COVID-19 outbreak. This route also continued to be characterized by a high volume of UASC, with 3,203 (9%) During the reporting period, several migrant deaths and being reported by the end of the year. The UASC comprised disappearances reported in the East and Horn of Africa region. over 71% per cent of all the children travelling, which is a drastic The region continued to witness a surge in spontaneous increase from the 46% tracked in 2019. In 2020, IOM registered returns of migrants from Yemen to Djibouti and Somalia by 36,632 returnees to Ethiopia, marking an almost 70% decrease sea, fueled by various factors, including loss of jobs, a growing compared to 2019 when 120,825 returnees were registered volume of stranded and detained migrants owing to the upon arrival. The majority (93%) of migrants registered in 2020 continued movement restrictions, widespread xenophobic and Migrants Entry Returns from KSA

30,000 27,948 35,000 30,088 25,000 30,000 19,559 25,000 20,000 18,186 14,948 14,369 20,000 15,000 15,000 10,965 Individuals 10,000 8,488 Individuals 7,167 10,000 5,005 4,413 5,000 3,669 3,144 1,505 5,000 2,089 2,438 210 0 702 962 841 135 0 195 - - Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

To Djibouti To Somalia To Yemen To Ethiopia To Yemen To Somalia reportedly returned involuntarily. Additionally, during the same discriminatory treatment, and limited access to basic services period, 13,895 Yemeni migrants returned from the Kingdom of along the routes. Some of the migrants who died during Q4 were Saudi Arabia to Yemen. In Somalia, 632 forced returnees (125 reportedly forced by smugglers to disembark in offshore areas in females and 507 males) from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were the in Djibouti while others were lost in the desert assisted with post-arrival return assistance (PARA) including and succumbed to the harsh weather as they attempted to cross onward travel assistance (via land and/or air) to their communities over from Somalia to Ethiopia.

The MRC team from the National Displacement and Refugee Agency (NDRA) with assisted migrants in Rugley Farm, Somalia | Photo credit: NDRA 2020

MRP Quarterly Updates: Q4 | October - December 2020 5 Objective 2: To support durable and development-oriented approaches to return, sustainable reintegration and community stabilization

108 5,645 1,307

Returnees (19 female and 89 males) Migrants (3,700 females and 1,945 Returnees (75 females and 1,232 assisted with AVR from Somalia and males) assisted with one-time cash males) completed reintegration Djibouti to Ethiopia assistance assistance after the return

368 104,101 4

Returnee children (255 females and Individuals participated in awareness Community development projects (3 113 males) assisted and accessed campaigns on risks linked to irregular in Somalia, 1 in Ethiopia) started in formal or alternative education migration, health and social cohesion communities of high returns services

Beneficiaries of reintegration support provided by IOM in Ethiopia | Photo credit: IOM 2020

During Q4, MRP partners continued to adapt their programmes as providing standardized reintegration support or working on to respond to emerging issues with a long-term durable solution strengthening migrant protection structures. focus, ensuring more substantial social inclusion, protection, and reintegration for migrants and returnees. However, much like In Djibouti, during the reporting period, 78 migrants (11 females the previous quarter, the pandemic negatively impacted VHR and 67 males) benefited from AVR to Ethiopia. and Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR) movements, with very In Ethiopia, MRP partners6 assisted 5,645 most vulnerable limited numbers of beneficiaries accessing assistance under these returnees (3,700 females and 1,945 males) with one-time cash programmes in Q4. The focus on responding to the needs of assistance7 and onward transportation allowance. Ten per cent of vulnerable returnees in the COVID-19 context has impeded the the beneficiaries were children and best interest assessments (BIA) efforts of MRP partners towards longer term interventions such were conducted for all the targeted unaccompanied returnee

6 IOM and Save the Children International

7 Cash assistance aimed to support the returnee cover their immediate needs during their return process, promoting dignified return to their families and communities

MRP Quarterly Updates: Q4 | October - December 2020 6 children to ensure safe and sustainable care arrangements in Burao and Bossaso. The projects are set out below: nurturing family environments. In Q4, MRP partners (IOM, SCI and Hundee Oromee) provided reintegration assistance to a total • The project ‘Support the Climate Adaptive Community of 562 (135 females and 427 males) returnee children and other Based Reintegration of returnees and communities of vulnerable youths. The reintegration assistance includes business return in Burao (Somaliland) to foster social cohesion set-up training, counselling on marketable business ventures and contributing to local development’ (implemented based on recent market assessments, support for business plan by a non-governmental organization (NGO) based in development, coordinating with relevant government authorities Somaliland called Candlelight for Environment, Education to provide business licenses to the returnees and procurement and Health) focuses on the inclusion of returning migrants and distribution of the business stock. SCI signed a Memorandum in host communities. of Understanding (MoU) with the local Women, Children and • The project ‘Promotion of community cohesion and Youth departments in the selected areas to ensure the sustainable development of sustainable livelihood opportunities reintegration of the children upon return to their families and in communities affected by return migration through communities of origin. beekeeping and prevention to deforestation in Balcad In Somalia, 195 forced returnees from the Kingdom of Saudi District’ aims to provide selected individuals with capacity Arabia were referred to IOM and were assisted with post-arrival building and technical skills in beekeeping, marketing return assistance (PARA) including onward travel assistance and sales of products. The project also contributes to (via land and/or air) to their places of origin. Thirty migrants (8 reforestation by planting tree seedlings on the project land. The project is implemented by Hano Academy and females and 22 males) benefited from AVR to Ethiopia. targets 66 individuals (31 females and 35 males) including returning migrants, unemployed youth without access to Community development projects land and vulnerable members of the host community as In Ethiopia, MRP partners launched a community-based per the pre-identified vulnerability criteria (female headed reintegration project entitled “Unlocking Job Opportunities for households, level of poverty, access to income in the Migrant Returnees and Potential Migrants in Sokoru District household, care for disabled or elderly in the household). of Jimma Zone through Gibe Dam Fish Farming”, which aims • The project ‘Promoting Waste Management in to improve the livelihood opportunities for migrant returnees, whilst fostering social cohesion between migrant potential migrants, and other people in situations of vulnerability in returnees and communities of return’ implemented by the the migration prone communities. The project will provide direct Somali NGO African Solution aims to support access to support to 88 migrant returnees and 162 potential migrants. income generating opportunities in waste management The project will be implemented in collaboration with the Jimma among returning migrants. During the reporting period, University College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine. African Solution carried out two awareness raising In Somalia, to support the development of durable and sustainable activities reaching 1,623 individuals including returnees reintegration approaches, three community-based projects were and host community members to share knowledge commenced in areas of high return in collaboration with national on the environmental degradation phenomenon in the partners. The projects were developed based on the community Benadir Regional Administration and identify the main consultations held jointly with local authorities and selected environmental degradation issues affecting the city. community members in district of high returns in Mogadishu, Awareness raising campaigns on the risk of irregular migration conducted and evaluated in identified hot spot areas In Djibouti, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, awareness returnees within their host communities. Approximately 100,000 raising sessions on malaria (prevention measures), and distribution people (50% females) were reached through the awareness of mosquito nets were conducted in areas with high numbers of raising activities. migrants. A total of 2,979 individuals (1,425 females and 1,554 males) were reached. In celebration of the International Migrants In Somalia, 12 awareness raising sessions were conducted at Day, six local authorities and representatives from partner the MRCs in Bossaso and Hargeisa on COVID-19 Infection agencies joined approximately 420 migrants who participated in Prevention and Control, reaching 513 Ethiopian migrants (212 females and 301 males). Furthermore, one awareness raising various commemoration activities at the MRC in Obock on 19 8 December. A group of migrants performed a play showcasing session took place in Bossaso as a response to Cyclone Gati the hardships they went through during their migration journey. reaching 55 Ethiopian migrants (18 females and 37males). On 18 December, to celebrate International Migrants Day, an awareness In Ethiopia, COVID-19 community awareness raising campaigns raising event on the risks of irregular migration was held in were conducted in Metema and Diredawa (migrant transit Bossaso reaching out to 134 individuals (39 females and 95 areas), and East Harrargie and North Wollo (migrant sending males) including Ethiopian migrants, returnees from the Kingdom and returnee areas). The key messages included safe migration of Saudi Arabia as well as host community members. information, awareness on services available for migrants and returnees and promotion of the social inclusion of migrants and

8 Gati, the strongest tropical cyclone ever measured Somalia, made landfall on November 22, 2020

MRP Quarterly Updates: Q4 | October - December 2020 7 Objective 3: To strengthen the protection of migrants in the Horn of Africa and Yemen by building the capacities of Governments.

615 600

(106 females and 509 males) protection institutions participated in the job fair stakeholders trained including public and private institutions in Mogadishu, Somalia

Migrant children at the learning facility managed by Caritas in Djibouti | Photo credit: Caritas, Djibouti 2020

A vital component of the MRP is providing support to (SEGRC), the City Hall, the Djibouti National Institute governments in the region. The support includes providing of Statistics (INSD), National Office for Assistance to equipment, improving access to technology for more coordinated Refugees and Victims (ONARS), Djibouti Town Hall and migration management processes and protocols, building existing Regional Councils. migration management capacities and strengthening their ability to protect vulnerable migrants. • A decree on child protection on the set-up and operationalization of a national platform and committee In Djibouti, the following capacity building activities were on the Best Interest Determination (BID) process for conducted during the reporting period: children was validated by the Government of Djibouti. • Two training courses covering mental health and • MRP partners supported the Ministry of Health with psychosocial support (MHPSS) Guidelines and Operational the construction of a COVID-19 screening centre at the Standards, psychological first aid (PFA) and psychosocial border post, in the Ali-Sabieh region. The launching support as a social cohesion strategy were conducted in ceremony took place in December 2020. Obock and attended by 30 frontline workers (13 females and 17 males) from the Regional Council, Police, Coast In Ethiopia, MRP partners conducted the following capacity Guard, hospital and the ICRC, social workers, health building activities: workers and police officers. • Two-day training of trainers on MHPSS buddy system • In November, IOM, in partnership with the National referral support system. A total of 168 participants (19 Institute of Statistics, organized a workshop for 20 females and 149 males) including university teachers, participants from key government and non-government counsellors, academic deans, career development directors institutions working on migration statistics in Djibouti to and instructors from six regional states (Tigray, Oromia, present migration research studies and launch the technical Amhara, Somali, SNNP and Dire Dawa) took part in the working group on migration data in the country. training. • In Djibouti, two trainings on DTM concepts were • Two day training on Integrated border management, organized by MRP partners targeting i) 30 DTM identification and assistance of vulnerable migrants at enumerators to reinforce their capacities on topics related the PoEs was attended by 221 border and migration to data collection on migration flows and ii) 30 individuals management officials (52 females, 169 males). from the Secretariat for Risk and Disaster Management • Material/infrastructural support was provided to key

MRP Quarterly Updates: Q4 | October - December 2020 8 migration management mandated Government agencies • Training on basic MHPSS skills for COVID-19 response including training materials to equip 27 Training and was conducted and 46 health workers (16 females and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutes, 30 males) from Mogadishu-based hospitals took part in (to provide skills training to potential Ethiopian labour the training. migrants going abroad for employment purposes); office and information technology equipment to the Central • In December 2020, Hano Academy, in coordination Statistical Agency (CSA), the Immigration, Nationality and with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and the Banadir Regional Administration, held the Mogadishu Job Vital Events Agency (INVEA) and the Ministry of Labour 9 and Social Affairs (MoLSA in establishing a MoLSA-run Fair . Over 600 institutions participated in the job fair Migrant Resource Centre). including public and private institutions, representatives from the Somali Chamber of Commerce, Federation of • MRP partners supported the Government of Ethiopia’s Somali Trade Unions, Somali Women Business Association National Partnership Coalition on Migration to develop Organization, community members and returnees. its Annual Plan and the National Communication Strategy on Irregular Migration and Promotion of Safe Labour • IOM and UNICEF developed a joint workplan covering the Migration. Furthermore, review processes continued in three main geographic areas of intervention (Somaliland, view of the endorsement of the National Coordination Benadir Regional Administration and Puntland). IOM and Mechanism and National Referral Mechanism directives UNICEF conducted a pre-training survey to assess the developed in the previous quarter. capacity gaps of the targeted participants in order to tailor the planned training content accordingly. In Somalia, several capacity building initiatives were conducted as set out below: • IOM Somalia supported the Civil Aviation and Airport Authorities at Aden Adde International Airport (AAIA) • 70 Immigration officers from 12 key PoEs across Somaliland in Mogadishu with office equipment in November 2020 (6 females and 64 males) were trained on Humanitarian to enhance airport services in screening and processing Border Management and COVID-19 response. The MRC vulnerable migrants considering the upcoming resumption in Mogadishu started its operations on 14 November and of airport operations. The screening facility will enhance the roles and responsibilities of the stakeholders were the capacity of the Immigration and Naturalization clarified. Department (IND) to better screen vulnerable migrants and provide direct assistance according to their needs.

Waste management awareness campaign by Africa Solutions in Somalia | Photo credit: Africa Solutions 2020

9 The Mogadishu Job Fair represented a platform to connect job seekers including returnees and IDPs, with employers, training providers, suppliers, businesses owners and Federal and local authorities on the current job vacancies and training opportunities for the affected populations.

MRP Quarterly Updates: Q4 | October - December 2020 9 Objective 4: To strengthen partnership and collaboration around evidence-based analysis of drivers of migration, needs and trends of migration between the Horn of Africa and Yemen.

National Partnership Coalition Secretariat Head a.i. delivering closing remarks at the MRP consultation workshop, 16 October 2020, Bishoftu, Oromia Regional State | Photo credit: IOM 2020

During the reporting period, IOM released 26 reports (Djibouti Gender Based Violence (GBV) seem to be prevalent along (3 DTM); https://dtm.iom.int/djibouti, Somalia (17: 14 weekly the route, with most female respondents reporting sexual dashboards and 3 monthly reports); https://dtm.iom.int/somalia harassment and that violence including rape had been and Yemen (6; 3 DTM and 3 three monthly internal migrant perpetrated against themselves or other women in their protection reports)); https://dtm.iom.int/yemen through the group. DTM Flow Monitoring Points. • In Ethiopia, SCI concluded a research on Protection, In November, the Somali National Bureau of Statistics appointed gender and political-economy analysis on child migration. IOM to be the lead agency in supporting the Bureau’s Migration The other study on unaccompanied child migration from Statistics Division. This is a significant recognition of the importance Ethiopia through the East irregular migration route will be of the DTM work and will contribute to evidence-based data and finalized in first quarter of 2021. programming in migration management in Somalia. • A study on child migrants from Ethiopia report provides Surveys/Assessments/Researches a comprehensive analysis of irregular child migration from Ethiopia based on a case study in five regions: Amhara, • In Djibouti, in November 2020, IOM, in partnership with Oromia, Tigray, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and DRC, conducted a livelihood assessment in three regions People’s Region (SNNPR) and Dire Dawa. The report hosting significant numbers of transiting migrants, to provides an insight into the characteristics of child migration understand migrants’ current approaches to finding work, patterns from Ethiopia, the socioeconomic profile of child identify potential livelihood opportunities and inform migrants, the driving forces for irregular child migration, future programming. The key findings revealed that a large the children’s migratory routes, decision-making processes proportion of migrants find work opportunities through and the cause of re-migration amongst child migrants. word of mouth and are often able to work for over a month. Language barrier was cited as a key impediment Monitoring activities to accessing services and jobs. Hosting communities, in general, do not have a negative perception of migrants. As part of monitoring activities, the Regional Office for East and Horn of Africa (EHoA), commissioned a beneficiary satisfaction • IOM’s Regional Data Hub (RDH), released the briefing review of the services offered at the MRCs10. The data collection paper, ‘Gendered Patterns of Women and Girls’ incorporated a decision-oriented approach aiming to serve Migration Along the Eastern Corridor’, which explores decision-makers and improve performance and beneficiary gendered migration dynamics along the Eastern Route, satisfaction at the MRCs. The survey enabled migrants to make drawing on findings from the Young Ethiopian Eastern their voices heard through the opportunity given to share their Corridor Research. The study found out that among the views and provide feedback on the services provided in the main factors driving women and girls’ irregular migration MRCs in a structured manner. The survey targeted adult MRC to the Gulf is youth unemployment in Ethiopia which is beneficiaries (above 18 years) who had benefitted from at least almost twice as high for females as it is for males (4.5% for one type of service at the MRC. The data collection covered all the females versus 2.6% for males). MRC countries in the region11, excluding the MRCs in Ethiopia. • The RDH also released a second briefing paper, a ‘Comparative Eastern Corridor Route Analysis’, The main findings highlighted that: comparing the migration dynamics along the two main • More than half of the respondents were satisfied with the migratory routes (through Djibouti and Somalia) on assistance and staff at Bossaso; -most of the respondents the Eastern Corridor. Findings indicate that instances of were satisfied with the assistance and staff at Hargeisa and

MRP Quarterly Updates: Q4 | October - December 2020 10 Obock; -most of the respondents in every MRCs reported • COVID-19 protective measurements were considered that the services they are receiving are helpful to improve to be relatively well put in place in every MRC, however, their situation; attention needs to be paid to the availability of water and soap; • Most of the respondents in every MRCs felt safe in the MRCs; • There were some suggestions for improvements under each MRC which are recommended to be considered • While respondents also expected a faster delivery of under each MRC context. assisted voluntary return services, return movements are currently limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic;

Mobile unit rescuing migrants in Obock| Photo credit: IOM 2020 Coordination At the Regional Office level, MRP partners validated the MRP plan. 2021 Appeal on 4 November 2020 and the validated reports In Djibouti, partners held one Mixed Migration Task Force from this meeting formed the basis for the 2021 MRP Appeal, 10 which was submitted into the Global Humanitarian Overview (MMTF) meeting to discuss various migration management issues. (https://gho.unocha.org/horn-africa-and-yemen). The MRP 2021 appeal and the MRP 2021-2024 strategy will be launched in the In Ethiopia, SCI facilitated quarterly coordination meetings among first quarter of 2021. The RCC meeting held on 2 December 220 key service providers and community stakeholders to 2020, recommended the strengthening of the protection enhance a coherent protection response for returnees. SCI also interventions in the MRP with a focus on: improving understanding trained 200 representatives from community-based structures of protection, needs, risks and vulnerabilities through protection (50% female) on key protection risks faced by migrants and monitoring, assessment and research: support the development/ returnees as well as the existing response mechanisms. Regular amendment and implementation of laws and policies; support review meetings were also conducted with 52 frontline social the provision of comprehensive, quality and timely assistance workers to support their day to day engagement with migrants and specialized protection services in line with established and returnees. standards; support return of vulnerable migrants and strengthen reintegration; strengthen the capacity of government and non- Hundee Oromee organized the annual council meeting on governmental partners on various facets of migrant protection human trafficking and smuggling of migrants on 25 December. and assistance. The meeting was chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister of Ethiopia and discussed the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on At the country office level, the general migration management response in the country, the All the MRP countries held consultations in October 2020 to need to improve data management as well as to operationalize reach a common agreement on the evaluation of needs for the the National Referral Mechanism. MRP 2021 appeal as well as to develop the four-year strategic In Somalia, on 12 November, the MMTF for Puntland held a virtual

10 The Mixed Migration Task Force, an existing structure in Djibouti and Somalia, which is composed of relevant government authorities, the UN, and relevant NGO- partners, serves as the coordination and information-sharing platform for the MRP. In Yemen, the Multisector for Refugees and Migrants Cluster takes on this role.

MRP Quarterly Updates: Q4 | October - December 2020 11 meeting which saw the participation of eight representatives variable to the arrivals in Yemen. IOM Yemen is coordinating with (all male), from the Ministry of Interior (MoI), UNHCR, DRC, the Government of Ethiopia regarding the resumption of VHR TASS NGOs and IOM. Updates on the response to the mixed charter flights for undocumented Ethiopians from Aden. The migration flows and the impact of the COVID-19 on stranded Government of Ethiopia has verified 1,100 individuals who will migrants in the region were shared by the agencies. be part of the first VHR movement that will take place in the first quarter of 2021. The VHR will continue until all VHR registered In Yemen, the MRP partners conducted three meetings to migrants are returned to Ethiopia. ensure regular coordination at the strategic and operational levels through the Refugees and Migrants Multi-Sector working group and the Mixed Migration Working Group platforms. About the MRP The Regional Migrant Response Plan for the Horn of Africa and Predictions for the next reporting period Yemen 2018-2020 is a three-year, migrant-focused humanitarian In the coming months, the COVID-19 pandemic will continue and development strategy targeting vulnerable migrants moving to impact the needs of migrants and people on the move along to and from the Horn of Africa and Yemen. The RMRP provides the Eastern corridor, as well as those of host communities and a framework for coordination, protection, capacity building, the government. Given the evolving and unpredictable nature analysis, and resource mobilization, recognizing the migration’s of COVID-19, MRP partners will continue to adapt their regional dimensions linking the Horn of Africa and Yemen. The programming to ensure that they reach the most vulnerable development of the next phase of the MRP 2021-2024 was migrants with life-saving assistance. Following the increase in initiated and will be completed during the first quarter of 2021. incoming flows to Somalia via both land and air compared to The RMRP is led by IOM’s Regional Office for the East and the previous quarter, it is expected that the overall number of Horn of Africa based in Nairobi. RMRP partners include migrants in need will increase. This will require MRP partners intergovernmental and non-governmental actors working in close to mobilize adequate resources to provide direct assistance as collaboration at the regional and country levels to set strategic well as sustainable solutions to populations in need including the objectives, determine yearly operational priorities and budgets, returnees from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (support currently support country offices in implementation through capacity on hold due to funding constraints). Arrivals into Yemen are likely building and technical support, and identify challenges and trends to increase at the same slow pace as in Q4. The re-opening that inform partners’ responses. of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia border will be an influential

Download the three-year Regional Download the Regional Migrant Download the previous Regional Download the previous Regional Migrant Response Plan for the Horn Response Plan for the Horn of Africa Migrant Response Plan Mid-Year Migrant Response Plan Mid-Year of Africa and Yemen 2018-2020 and Yemen - 2020 Appeal Update | January - June 2020 Update | January - June 2020

MRP Quarterly Updates: Q4 | October - December 2020 12 MRP Partners and Donors

Contact information IOM Regional Office for the East and Horn of Africa [email protected]

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