The governor of Shabwah province in eastern Yemen, Awad bin Al-Wazir, on Monday, August 12, 2024, urged the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and other UN agencies to assist the province in containing the influx of African migrants entering the country illegally.

During a meeting with Angela Al-Waili, IOM's Health Sector Project Manager, bin Al-Wazir highlighted the urgent need for support from international organizations to address the growing issue of illegal migration. The meeting, reported by the official Yemeni news agency Saba, focused on discussing the IOM's humanitarian interventions, life-saving programs, and the potential for local communities to benefit from these initiatives.

Bin Al-Wazir acknowledged the IOM's focus on the humanitarian aspects of the situation, emphasizing the challenges facing Shabwah due to the influx of refugees. He called for the establishment of fully equipped refugee camps and the implementation of a structured system for accommodating refugees.

Al-Waili, in turn, presented an overview of the IOM's ongoing humanitarian programs in Shabwah and outlined plans for expansion in the coming period. She commended the local authorities for their support and commitment to the IOM's field operations.

In a June report on migrant flows, the IOM documented the arrival of 1,685 migrants from the Horn of Africa in Yemen during May 2024. This represented a 14% increase compared to the previous month, with Shabwah's coastline remaining the primary entry point for migrants for nearly nine months.

The IOM has highlighted the increasing dangers faced by migrants throughout Yemen, which serves as a key transit country on the migration route between the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Gulf.