IOM urges Djibouti support Migrants stranded on routes

Oct 6

IOM's Alexandre Coissac describes overlapping emergencies in Djibouti: more than 3,700 refugees arriving from Yemen over three weeks, more than 20,000 incoming movements from Ethiopia since September 10, and 539 Ethiopian migrants returning from Yemen. More than 3,000 stranded migrants were observed from September 20–30, facing exhaustion, dehydration, shortages and exploitation risks. IOM supplies emergency aid and voluntary-return assistance, while secondary routes make people harder to reach and stretch local services. Coissac asks for international support. In Q&A he says Ethiopian movement volumes have not increased over previous patterns, describes mainly economic motivations and some fears, and says migrants seeking the Gulf often lack detailed knowledge of Yemen's conflict. He reports deaths from exhaustion near Balho but cannot access the group or confirm a total. Omondi Okoth gives 184,000 people displaced in Yemen as of October 4, with a weekly update pending. Coissac withholds a January-to-date/nationality breakdown until cross-checks are complete.

At its October 6 briefing, IOM warns of Eastern Route migrant stranding in Djibouti. Coissac reports more than 20,000 incoming movements from Ethiopia and 539 Ethiopian migrants returning from Yemen since September 10, and more than 3,000 stranded migrants observed between September 20 and 30. People face exhaustion, dehydration, shortages and exploitation risks, while secondary routes impede aid access. IOM provides food, water and assisted voluntary returns and calls for more support. Coissac says flows from Ethiopia have not increased over previous patterns, cites mainly economic motives and some fears, and reports deaths near Balho without direct access or a confirmed total. He defers January-to-date and nationality breakdowns pending cross-checks.