Migration Response Centre in Obock, Djibouti: A Lifeline for Young Women on the Move
Arifa Abdousamad, 18 years old, found herself at the Migrant Response Centre (MRC) in Obock, five days ago, on 1 March 2023. She walked from East Hararghe, Ethiopia for over 3 weeks. According to IOM research, approximately 18,000 migrants returned from Yemen to the coastal region of Obock in Djibouti over a period of nearly 2 years.
Djibouti is known as a transit country for migrants; however, this does not make them any less deserving or in need of support. Indeed, migrants in transit frequently find themselves in particularly vulnerable situations; their needs are different to those of migrants on the move. Migrants in transit are in need of direct assistance (food, non-food, medical and shelter). They face a lot of protection risks, including violence, exploitation, and abuse perpetrated by smugglers and traffickers. The case of Arifa’s is no different. The required direct assistance and protection activities for migrants in transit needs adequate funding.
Arifa decided to leave home and walked in a mixed group, of women and men. Some of the women she started the journey with could not continue due to fatigue. Arifa indicated that a few weeks into their journey, in Tadjourah, the smuggler demanded more money from the group.
“The rest of the group continued towards Yemen, because their families sent them money, but I decided to stay here in Obock because my family refused to transfer money to me.” - Arifa.
The IOM MRC in Obock is well known in the region as a centre that provides lifesaving assistance for vulnerable stranded migrants, including those who need support returning to their country of origin.
The Ethiopian community she met in Yemen told her that if she returned home alone, the smuggler would detain her and force her family to send money, so she was advised to come to the MRC and get the assistance she needs to return to Ethiopia.
Findings from the Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) held with migrants at the MRC in Obock in May 20222 outlined that due to the deteriorating situation in Yemen for migrants and the challenges in moving onwards towards Saudi Arabia, many migrants opt to return to the Horn of Africa. In 2021, IOM tracked 10,547 spontaneous returns of Ethiopian migrants to Djibouti. In the first quarter of 2022 IOM Djibouti identified 1,831 spontaneous returnees marking an over 180% increase in returns in the first quarter of the year compared to the last quarter of 2021.
Arifa is one of twelve young women remaining at the centre, following the return of ten women that morning, to Ethiopia. Arifa is relieved and happy to be in the centre where she feels safe and will be supported to return to Ethiopia at no charge.
The MRC provides migrants with dignity kits and other non-food items, specific to their needs. Here she also has food, water and shelter as well as mental health and psychosocial support, which is provided through various ways including sport. Arifa has been playing volleyball here for the last few days with the other young women, and shared:
“It is better to be here than outside. I have been here a few days and I feel secure. On our way from Ethiopia, we were asking ourselves whether we would die or reach Yemen. Now that I am here, I don’t ask those questions anymore.”
The MRC is intended as a temporary home for migrants as they prepare their travel documents in coordination with the Ethiopian Embassy in Djibouti ahead of their return. In the meantime, Arifa is happy to be going home soon.
According to IOM, the number of women and girls travelling along the Eastern Route doubled between 2021 and 2022 (from 53,200 to 106,700). Women and girls represent 32% of all those moving along the Eastern Route in 2022, an increase of 5% compared to 2021. The number of women and girls who left Ethiopia in 2022 increased by 55% between 2021 and 2022 (from 57,000 to 88,100). In particular, the number of girls travelling alone more than doubled in the last year (from 1,500 to 4,000).
The Regional Migrant Response Plan (MRP) for the Horn of Arica and Yemen was set up to respond to the situation along the Eastern Route in a targeted, comprehensive and route-based manner. The inter-agency plan brings together interventions of 48 partners to provide emergency assistance, protection and address the longer-term socioeconomic needs of migrants and host communities. The MRCs are one of the ways in which migrants’ needs are met in a context-specific and gender responsive manner.
Migration Response Centre in Obock, Djibouti: A Lifeline for Young Women on the Move
Arifa Abdousamad, 18 years old, found herself at the Migrant Response Centre (MRC) in Obock, five days ago, on 1 March 2023. She walked from East Hararghe, Ethiopia for over 3 weeks. According to IOM research, approximately 18,000 migrants returned from Yemen to the coastal region of Obock in Djibouti over a period of nearly 2 years.
Djibouti is known as a transit country for migrants; however, this does not make them any less deserving or in need of support. Indeed, migrants in transit frequently find themselves in particularly vulnerable situations; their needs are different to those of migrants on the move. Migrants in transit are in need of direct assistance (food, non-food, medical and shelter). They face a lot of protection risks, including violence, exploitation, and abuse perpetrated by smugglers and traffickers. The case of Arifa’s is no different. The required direct assistance and protection activities for migrants in transit needs adequate funding.
Arifa decided to leave home and walked in a mixed group, of women and men. Some of the women she started the journey with could not continue due to fatigue. Arifa indicated that a few weeks into their journey, in Tadjourah, the smuggler demanded more money from the group.
“The rest of the group continued towards Yemen, because their families sent them money, but I decided to stay here in Obock because my family refused to transfer money to me.” - Arifa.
The IOM MRC in Obock is well known in the region as a centre that provides lifesaving assistance for vulnerable stranded migrants, including those who need support returning to their country of origin.
The Ethiopian community she met in Yemen told her that if she returned home alone, the smuggler would detain her and force her family to send money, so she was advised to come to the MRC and get the assistance she needs to return to Ethiopia.
Findings from the Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) held with migrants at the MRC in Obock in May 20222 outlined that due to the deteriorating situation in Yemen for migrants and the challenges in moving onwards towards Saudi Arabia, many migrants opt to return to the Horn of Africa. In 2021, IOM tracked 10,547 spontaneous returns of Ethiopian migrants to Djibouti. In the first quarter of 2022 IOM Djibouti identified 1,831 spontaneous returnees marking an over 180% increase in returns in the first quarter of the year compared to the last quarter of 2021.
Arifa is one of twelve young women remaining at the centre, following the return of ten women that morning, to Ethiopia. Arifa is relieved and happy to be in the centre where she feels safe and will be supported to return to Ethiopia at no charge.
The MRC provides migrants with dignity kits and other non-food items, specific to their needs. Here she also has food, water and shelter as well as mental health and psychosocial support, which is provided through various ways including sport. Arifa has been playing volleyball here for the last few days with the other young women, and shared:
“It is better to be here than outside. I have been here a few days and I feel secure. On our way from Ethiopia, we were asking ourselves whether we would die or reach Yemen. Now that I am here, I don’t ask those questions anymore.”
The MRC is intended as a temporary home for migrants as they prepare their travel documents in coordination with the Ethiopian Embassy in Djibouti ahead of their return. In the meantime, Arifa is happy to be going home soon.
According to IOM, the number of women and girls travelling along the Eastern Route doubled between 2021 and 2022 (from 53,200 to 106,700). Women and girls represent 32% of all those moving along the Eastern Route in 2022, an increase of 5% compared to 2021. The number of women and girls who left Ethiopia in 2022 increased by 55% between 2021 and 2022 (from 57,000 to 88,100). In particular, the number of girls travelling alone more than doubled in the last year (from 1,500 to 4,000).
The Regional Migrant Response Plan (MRP) for the Horn of Arica and Yemen was set up to respond to the situation along the Eastern Route in a targeted, comprehensive and route-based manner. The inter-agency plan brings together interventions of 48 partners to provide emergency assistance, protection and address the longer-term socioeconomic needs of migrants and host communities. The MRCs are one of the ways in which migrants’ needs are met in a context-specific and gender responsive manner.
Migration Response Centre in Obock, Djibouti: A Lifeline for Young Women on the Move
Migration Response Centre in Obock, Djibouti: A Lifeline for Young Women on the Move
Arifa Abdousamad, 18 years old, found herself at the Migrant Response Centre (MRC) in Obock, five days ago, on 1 March 2023. She walked from East Hararghe, Ethiopia for over 3 weeks. According to IOM research, approximately 18,000 migrants returned from Yemen to the coastal region of Obock in Djibouti over a period of nearly 2 years.
Djibouti is known as a transit country for migrants; however, this does not make them any less deserving or in need of support. Indeed, migrants in transit frequently find themselves in particularly vulnerable situations; their needs are different to those of migrants on the move. Migrants in transit are in need of direct assistance (food, non-food, medical and shelter). They face a lot of protection risks, including violence, exploitation, and abuse perpetrated by smugglers and traffickers. The case of Arifa’s is no different. The required direct assistance and protection activities for migrants in transit needs adequate funding.
Arifa decided to leave home and walked in a mixed group, of women and men. Some of the women she started the journey with could not continue due to fatigue. Arifa indicated that a few weeks into their journey, in Tadjourah, the smuggler demanded more money from the group.
“The rest of the group continued towards Yemen, because their families sent them money, but I decided to stay here in Obock because my family refused to transfer money to me.” - Arifa.
The IOM MRC in Obock is well known in the region as a centre that provides lifesaving assistance for vulnerable stranded migrants, including those who need support returning to their country of origin.
The Ethiopian community she met in Yemen told her that if she returned home alone, the smuggler would detain her and force her family to send money, so she was advised to come to the MRC and get the assistance she needs to return to Ethiopia.
Findings from the Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) held with migrants at the MRC in Obock in May 20222 outlined that due to the deteriorating situation in Yemen for migrants and the challenges in moving onwards towards Saudi Arabia, many migrants opt to return to the Horn of Africa. In 2021, IOM tracked 10,547 spontaneous returns of Ethiopian migrants to Djibouti. In the first quarter of 2022 IOM Djibouti identified 1,831 spontaneous returnees marking an over 180% increase in returns in the first quarter of the year compared to the last quarter of 2021.
Arifa is one of twelve young women remaining at the centre, following the return of ten women that morning, to Ethiopia. Arifa is relieved and happy to be in the centre where she feels safe and will be supported to return to Ethiopia at no charge.
The MRC provides migrants with dignity kits and other non-food items, specific to their needs. Here she also has food, water and shelter as well as mental health and psychosocial support, which is provided through various ways including sport. Arifa has been playing volleyball here for the last few days with the other young women, and shared:
“It is better to be here than outside. I have been here a few days and I feel secure. On our way from Ethiopia, we were asking ourselves whether we would die or reach Yemen. Now that I am here, I don’t ask those questions anymore.”
The MRC is intended as a temporary home for migrants as they prepare their travel documents in coordination with the Ethiopian Embassy in Djibouti ahead of their return. In the meantime, Arifa is happy to be going home soon.
According to IOM, the number of women and girls travelling along the Eastern Route doubled between 2021 and 2022 (from 53,200 to 106,700). Women and girls represent 32% of all those moving along the Eastern Route in 2022, an increase of 5% compared to 2021. The number of women and girls who left Ethiopia in 2022 increased by 55% between 2021 and 2022 (from 57,000 to 88,100). In particular, the number of girls travelling alone more than doubled in the last year (from 1,500 to 4,000).
The Regional Migrant Response Plan (MRP) for the Horn of Arica and Yemen was set up to respond to the situation along the Eastern Route in a targeted, comprehensive and route-based manner. The inter-agency plan brings together interventions of 48 partners to provide emergency assistance, protection and address the longer-term socioeconomic needs of migrants and host communities. The MRCs are one of the ways in which migrants’ needs are met in a context-specific and gender responsive manner.