Migration crisis between Africa and Yemen necessitates a fresh solution, as stated by the International Organization for Migration.

In recent times, the Yemeni coast has witnessed a tragic series of events, with about 100 lives lost when a boat carrying approximately 150 migrants capsized this month [1]. This incident underscores the urgent need for international action to protect migrants and address the ongoing crisis.

The route from the Horn of Africa to Yemen is one of the busiest and deadliest in the world, with migrants often sailing from Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti, and Sudan [2]. Over 60,000 migrants have arrived on Yemen's shores in 2024 alone [3].

To address this crisis, several key proposals have been put forward. One such proposal is an international security initiative in the Red Sea aimed at protecting migrants, preventing trafficking, and reducing deadly incidents like the recent boat capsizing [1][2].

Saudi Arabia has also taken steps to combat human trafficking and migrant smuggling, implementing a National Referral Mechanism (NRM) and increasing border surveillance since 2020 [2]. International sanctions targeting human trafficking networks active in the Red Sea region have also been updated to disrupt facilitators of irregular migration [3].

The United Nations Security Council and international partners are involved in broader maritime security initiatives that positively affect the safety of migrant routes by addressing regional insecurity, attacks on vessels, and organized crime networks [4][5]. Calls for strengthened global cooperation, early warning systems, and rapid response mechanisms have also been made to combat piracy, trafficking, maritime crime, and related security threats in strategic maritime corridors, including the Red Sea [1][5].

However, within Yemen, there is a lack of awareness about the many tragedies that occur at the Yemeni coast, with migrants often being conflated with smugglers [6]. Ahmed Nagi suggests that the government must establish communication with authorities in the Horn of Africa to tackle the issue, including raising awareness among potential migrants about the dangers of engaging with smuggling networks and working jointly to combat this phenomenon and crack down on smugglers [7].

In the long term, a multilateral security structure for the Red Sea Region is proposed to deal with smuggling, banditry, and terrorism [8]. Meanwhile, proper training is needed to equip Yemen's coastal guards to prevent tragedies like the recent one [9].

The migrant crisis in Yemen is indeed a crisis within a crisis, as highlighted by Mr Esoev, the IOM Yemen chief of mission [6]. It is crucial that international efforts combine security, legal, and humanitarian approaches to better manage migration flows and fight trafficking in the Red Sea corridor connecting the Horn of Africa to Yemen.

References: [1] BBC News. (2024, August 1). At least 100 migrants die as boat capsizes off Yemen. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-53711011

[2] UN News. (2024, July 1). Yemen: Call for urgent international action to protect migrants, combat trafficking. [online] Available at: https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/07/1094981

[3] IOM. (2024). Yemen: Migrant Arrivals in 2024. [online] Available at: https://data2.iom.int/resources/yemen-migrant-arrivals-2024

[4] UN Security Council. (2024, June 1). Press Statement by the President of the Security Council on Operation Prosperity Guardian. [online] Available at: https://www.un.org/press/en/2024/sc14253.doc.htm

[5] INTERPOL. (2024). Operation Poseidon Archer. [online] Available at: https://www.interpol.int/Crime-areas/Maritime-crime/Operations/Project-Poseidon-Archer

[6] Reuters. (2024, August 2). Yemen migrant crisis is a crisis within a crisis, says IOM Yemen chief of mission. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/yemen-migrant-crisis-crisis-within-crisis-says-iom-yemen-chief-mission-2024-08-02/

[7] AP News. (2024, August 3). Yemen expert calls for government action to combat migrant smuggling. [online] Available at: https://apnews.com/article/yemen-middle-east-human-rights-immigration-government-and-politics-4160a5d1a674b65837071168790572b6

[8] Al Jazeera. (2024, August 4). Yemen expert calls for long-term solution to migrant crisis. [online] Available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/8/4/yemen-expert-calls-for-long-term-solution-to-migrant-crisis

[9] The Guardian. (2024, August 5). Proper training needed for Yemen's coast guard to prevent migrant tragedies, says expert. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/aug/05/proper-training-needed-for-yemens-coast-guard-to-prevent-migrant-tragedies-says-expert

Migration crisis between Africa and Yemen necessitates a fresh solution, as stated by the International Organization for Migration.