Eastern Route Migration: A Deadly Journey
By Darius Spearman (africanelements)
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The Perilous Eastern Route
The Eastern Route, a critical migration pathway from the Horn of Africa to the Arabian Peninsula, has seen a dramatic increase in journeys. This route is known for its complex and dangerous nature, often involving irregular crossings and significant risks for those undertaking the journey. In the first five months of 2022, at least 27,800 people crossed from the Horn of Africa to Yemen, a number that surpassed the total for the entire previous year (iom.int). This surge highlights the desperate circumstances driving individuals to seek new lives.
The majority of these migrants, about 62%, arrived at Yemen’s southern coast from Somalia, while 38% came from Djibouti (iom.int). These figures underscore the significant role these two nations play as departure points for migrants. The journey itself is fraught with peril, including the scorching Obock desert in Djibouti, treacherous sea crossings, and violent encounters with smugglers. The increasing vulnerability of women and girls is particularly alarming, with female transit through Djibouti more than doubling in recent times.
Migrant Arrivals to Yemen (2021 vs. 2022)
Understanding the Migrant Response Plan
The Migrant Response Plan (MRP) for the Horn of Africa and Yemen is a comprehensive, inter-agency framework. It provides humanitarian aid and protection to vulnerable migrants and host communities along the Eastern Route. This plan is a collaborative effort involving numerous organizations working to address the complex challenges of migration in the region (mrp-easternroute.com). The MRP uses a route-based approach, considering the drivers of migration and the persistent vulnerability of migrants throughout their journey (reliefweb.int).
The MRP brings together 48 organizations to provide urgent, life-saving humanitarian and protection support (mrp-easternroute.com). Its goals include enhancing access to basic services and implementing medium to long-term actions to address the underlying drivers of migration for both migrants and host communities (mrp-easternroute.com). This strategic framework involves 41 partners, including governments, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the United Nations (UN), international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) (reliefweb.int). The MRP offers a flexible mechanism to respond to evolving migration trends, fluid operational environments, and broader humanitarian and socioeconomic developments affecting migrants and host communities, ensuring a coordinated and multi-sectoral response (reliefweb.int).
The Harsh Realities of the Journey
Migrants on the Eastern Route, especially Ethiopians, often lack awareness of the severe risks involved in their journey. Many young Ethiopian migrants are unaware of dangers such as hunger, dehydration, waterborne and gastrointestinal diseases, and various forms of abuse (iom.int). This lack of information leaves them highly vulnerable to exploitation and harm. Most migrants are driven by socio-economic reasons, hoping to earn significantly more in Saudi Arabia, with a median expected monthly income of USD 453, compared to Ethiopia, where the median monthly income is USD 61 (iom.int). This vast economic disparity fuels their perilous journeys.
Upon arrival in Yemen, migrants face perilous onward journeys, often crossing conflict frontlines and experiencing grave human rights violations (iom.int). These violations include detention in inhumane conditions, exploitation, and forced transfers across lines of control (iom.int). Across parts of Africa, refugees and migrants increasingly traverse areas where insurgent groups, militias, and criminal actors operate, leading to human trafficking, kidnapping for ransom, forced labor, and sexual exploitation (iom.int). Reported abuses include torture, physical violence, arbitrary detention, death, sexual violence and exploitation, enslavement, organ removal, robbery, collective expulsions, and refoulement (iom.int).
The Yemeni Conflict and Migrant Vulnerability
The conflict in Yemen significantly exacerbates the dangers faced by migrants. The country is a battleground, and migrants often find themselves caught between warring factions. The term “lines of control” refers to the shifting boundaries held by different armed groups, which migrants are forced to navigate, often at great risk. The conflict has created a chaotic environment where human rights abuses can occur with little accountability. The IOM supports the long-term recovery of migrants needing intensive care by transporting them to secondary health facilities (iom.int).
Migrant Arrivals to Yemen by Origin
Aid agencies face significant challenges in providing support due to inadequate funding and restrictions on humanitarian access, including in informal detention centers (iom.int). These informal detention centers are often makeshift facilities where migrants are held without due process, and conditions can be inhumane. The term “refoulement” refers to the forced return of refugees or asylum seekers to a country where they are likely to face persecution, a practice that violates international law. The ongoing conflict and lack of safe passage leave migrants trapped between danger abroad and despair at home, especially for the over 55,000 Ethiopians forcibly returned from Saudi Arabia to conflict-hit regions like Amhara, Tigray, and Oromia.
Economic Disparities and Driving Factors
The stark economic conditions in Ethiopia are a primary driver for many migrants seeking opportunities abroad. The median monthly income of USD 61 in Ethiopia stands in stark contrast to the median expected monthly income of USD 453 in Saudi Arabia (iom.int). This significant difference fuels the hope of a better life, despite the immense risks involved in the journey. The MRP considers these economic drivers and the persistent vulnerability of migrants in the Horn of Africa and Yemen (reliefweb.int). Migration management in Ethiopia is characterized by declarations, proclamations, and legal documents, with a national migration policy currently being drafted, indicating efforts to manage migration within the country (mignex.org).
Median Expected Monthly Income Comparison (USD)
The broader migration context includes not only economic factors but also political instability and conflict in the region. These factors contribute to the desperation that drives individuals to undertake such dangerous journeys. The MRP aims to address these underlying drivers of migration for both migrants and host communities (mrp-easternroute.com). The increase in migrant numbers, with over 238,000 making the trip between January and June, a 34% jump from last year, indicates the growing pressure on individuals to leave their home countries. This surge comes at a tragic cost, with at least 348 migrants dead or missing, many lost in Djibouti’s scorching Obock desert, drowned at sea, or caught in violent attacks by smugglers.
The Human Cost of Migration
The human cost of migration along the Eastern Route is devastating. The reported abuses, including torture, physical violence, arbitrary detention, death, sexual violence and exploitation, enslavement, and organ removal, paint a grim picture of the realities faced by migrants (iom.int). These horrors are compounded by collective expulsions and refoulement, which further endanger vulnerable individuals. The IOM’s efforts in Yemen are supported by various international bodies and governments, aligning with the Migrant Response Plan (MRP) for the Horn of Africa and Yemen (iom.int).
Despite these efforts, huge gaps in protection and assistance persist, pushing refugees and migrants into dangerous journeys (iom.int). The Central Mediterranean route, while distinct from the Eastern Route, also highlights similar challenges in protection and assistance, underscoring a broader issue in global migration. The continued surge in migrant numbers, even with a slight dip during Ramadan and enforcement crackdowns, suggests that 2025 will surpass last year’s migration numbers if the trend continues. This ongoing crisis demands sustained attention and resources to protect the lives and dignity of those seeking a better future.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Darius Spearman has been a professor of Black Studies at San Diego City College since 2007. He is the author of several books, including Between The Color Lines: A History of African Americans on the California Frontier Through 1890. You can visit Darius online at africanelements.org.
