Migration Between the Horn of Africa and Yemen a Study of Puntland, Djibouti and Yemen
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Migration Between the Horn of Africa and Yemen A Study of Puntland, Djibouti and Yemen Submitted by staff of the Research and Evidence Facility For the EU Trust Fund for Africa (Horn of Africa Window) 25 July 2017 The Research and Evidence Facility (REF) Consortium is comprised of: Thornhaugh St, Russell Square London WC1H 0XG, United Kingdom www.soas.ac.uk Team Leader: Laura Hammond Communications Key Expert: Idil Osman [email protected] Queen Elizabeth House, Oxford University 3 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TB, United Kingdom https://www.imi.ox.ac.uk/ Migration & Development Key Expert: Oliver Bakewell Nairobi, Kenya www.sahan.global Conflict & Governance Key Expert: Vincent Chordi Research Coordinator: Caitlin Sturridge With Funding Provided by: The EU Emergency Trust Fund for the Horn of Africa Development Cooperation DG Brussels Suggested Citation: Research and Evidence Facility (REF). July 2017. ‘Migration between the Horn of Africa and Yemen: A Study of Puntland, Djibouti and Yemen,’ London and Nairobi: EU Trust Fund for Africa (Horn of Africa Window) Research and Evidence Facility. www.soas.ac.uk/hornresearch-ref Acknowledgements This report was prepared and written by Caitlin Sturridge (lead author), Oliver Bakewell and Laura Hammond. The fieldwork was carried out by local researchers, Farrah Hussein, Hanad Mohamed (who also took all of the Puntland photographs, except where noted), Idyle Abdourahman (who also took all of the Djibouti photographs) and Wameedh Shakir. Special thanks also to Vincent Chordi and Lavender Mboya for their help, and to the key informants and interviewees who contributed their insights from Puntland, Djibouti, Yemen, Kenya, Ethiopia and elsewhere. Finally, we would also like to thank Virginie de Ruyt and Fulgencio Garrido-Ruiz from the European Union Trust Fund Development Cooperation DG, together with the EU Delegations who supported this project. Maps were prepared by Fit Image Studios in Nairobi, Kenya. The views expressed in this report are those of the researchers and do not indicate a position or opinion on the part of the European Union or the EU Trust Fund for Africa. Table of Contents Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................... 3 List of Tables, Figures and Images ...................................................................................... 3 Executive Summary ........................................................................................................... 5 Key findings from the Research .................................................................................................. 7 Trends in Migrant Routes and Profiles .......................................................................................... 7 Factors that Drive and Shape Migration ........................................................................................ 8 Smuggling Activities ..................................................................................................................... 12 Experiences and Outcomes of Migration .................................................................................... 13 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................ 17 1.1. Overall objectives and research questions ......................................................................... 19 1.2. Methodology ..................................................................................................................... 20 1.2.1. Field Work .......................................................................................................................... 20 1.2.2. Desk Review ....................................................................................................................... 22 1.2.3. Report Structure ................................................................................................................ 23 1.3. Challenges ......................................................................................................................... 23 2. What is Driving the Growth in Migration from the HoA to Yemen Despite the Dangers of the Journey and the Deteriorating Security Situation in Yemen? ..................................... 25 2.1. Migration Numbers and Trends ......................................................................................... 25 2.1.1. Migration from the HoA to Yemen .................................................................................... 26 2.1.2. Migration from Yemen to the HoA .................................................................................... 29 2.2. Who is migrating? .............................................................................................................. 32 2.2.1. Nationality ......................................................................................................................... 32 2.2.2. Age and Gender ................................................................................................................. 33 2.2.3. Socioeconomic background ............................................................................................... 35 2.3. What routes are migrants taking and why? ........................................................................ 36 2.3.1. Mapping the routes ........................................................................................................... 37 2.3.2. Who decides on the route? ............................................................................................... 38 2.3.3. What factors influence decisions about migration routes? ............................................... 40 2.4. What is driving migration in the region? ............................................................................ 47 2.4.1. The chronic poor economic, social, political and security conditions ............................... 48 2.4.2. Underlying socio-political structures ................................................................................. 51 2.4.3. Deterioration of conditions in the region .......................................................................... 55 3. To what extent are smuggling and trafficking networks involved in facilitating people’s movements? ................................................................................................................... 62 3.1. How does the trade in humans operate? ........................................................................... 64 3.2. Where do they operate? .................................................................................................... 66 3.2.1 Djibouti ............................................................................................................................... 67 3.2.2. Somaliland and Puntland ................................................................................................... 68 3.2.3. Yemen ................................................................................................................................ 70 3.3. Who is involved? ............................................................................................................... 71 3.4. Links to other criminal activities ........................................................................................ 73 4. What is the impact of these movements on the lives of migrants? ............................... 75 1 4.1. Protection risks and abuse ................................................................................................. 76 4.2. Hardship ............................................................................................................................ 79 4.3. Unfinished journeys ........................................................................................................... 85 4.4. Who is most at risk? .......................................................................................................... 87 5. What is the impact of these movements on local communities and wider society? ...... 89 5.1. Local economy and labour market ..................................................................................... 93 5.2. Health ............................................................................................................................... 95 5.3. Security ............................................................................................................................. 96 5.4. Local values ....................................................................................................................... 97 6. What are the existing policy and programme responses to this migration? .................. 98 6.1. State Response .................................................................................................................. 98 6.2. UN and NGO Response .................................................................................................... 103 6.3. Migrant Response Centres ............................................................................................... 104 6.4. Community-level responses ............................................................................................. 106 6.5. Mechanisms for coordination .......................................................................................... 107 7. What are the Gaps and Opportunities for Future Policy and Programming? ..............