A recent UN report published on Thursday indicates that 94% of African migrants arriving in Yemen are Ethiopian nationals.

The report, issued by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), explores the driving factors behind this significant migration, the challenges faced by these migrants, and the government's efforts to mitigate the phenomenon.

According to the report, there are two main migration routes to Yemen: one leads to the governorates of Shabwa, Hadramaut, and Al-Mahrah, while the other heads towards Lahij and Taiz.

Recent actions taken by Yemeni authorities against human traffickers along the coast of Lahij represent a significant shift that could reshape migration dynamics in the region moving forward.

Using a flow monitoring tool that tracks the total number of migrants, the report indicated that 4,984 migrants entered Yemen via the coasts of Lahij and Taiz in the second quarter of this year, reflecting an 8% decrease compared to the previous quarter.

The IOM noted that the survey included 3,392 migrants across Al-Mahrah, Lahij, Aden, Marib, Shabwa, and Hadramaut, with the majority of respondents being young adults aged 17 to 25, comprising 87% of the sample.

Ninety-nine percent of respondents cited economic reasons for their migration, with the majority being single (86%), having received only primary education or less (58%), and currently unemployed (93%). Additionally, 51% came from rural areas.

The IOM emphasized that these findings do not cover African migrants living in Houthi-controlled areas, although the report aims to provide a comprehensive profile of the migrants and their circumstances.

The overall sample was predominantly male, accounting for 95% of the total.