Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
March 2025 witnessed a significant drop in the flow of migrants to Yemen, with the International Organization for Migration’s Displacement Tracking Matrix recording the arrival of only 8,860 migrants. This figure represents a substantial 31% decrease compared to February, which saw 12,906 arrivals.
The majority of the new arrivals—74%—came from Djibouti, while the remaining 26% arrived from Somalia. All migrants coming from Djibouti, totaling 6,545 individuals, were concentrated in Dhubab District in Taiz Governorate. Since the beginning of the year, a total of 37,166 migrants have arrived in Yemen.
The data also revealed a specific demographic breakdown among the migrants: 19% were children, 23% were women, and 58% were men. Ethiopian nationals made up the vast majority of arrivals, accounting for 95%, while Somali migrants comprised just 5%. Notably, no migrants were recorded arriving in Lahj Governorate in March, a result of government measures against migrant smuggling that began in August 2023.
In a related development, the Displacement Tracking Matrix recorded the return of 3,216 Yemenis to their home country in March, a 9% decrease from February. Additionally, 315 Ethiopian migrants were deported from Oman to the Dheefen border point in Al-Mahrah Governorate.
Conversely, 1,234 migrants left Yemen during March, either voluntarily or by sea. Of this group, 79% were men, 15% were women, and 6% were children. Reports from Djibouti noted the return of 1,593 migrants from Yemen, most of whom were men (84%), reflecting the ongoing challenges faced by migrants in the country.
