since Friday 03 April, 2015 the International Organization for Migration (IOM) safely brought 159 Ethiopians from Djibouti to Addis Ababa. The returnees composed of 131 individuals who were stranded in Djibouti while irregularly heading to Yemen and 28 who were evacuated from Yemen to Djibouti by boat due to conflict. 

The migrants who were evacuated from Yemen included five women who managed to reach Djibouti by ferry but did not have the means to reach Addis Ababa. IOM assisted these women, including one pregnant woman by providing safe return to Addis Ababa last Friday.

IOM also assisted additional 23 Ethiopians who managed to reach Djibouti from Yemen by a boat on Thursday. Upon arrival at Djibouti, the Ethiopian ambassador along IOM Djibouti welcomed and assured them that they would be assisted to return to Ethiopia via airplane to Addis Ababa. On Monday 06 April, the promise was fulfilled.

IOM also assisted 131 Ethiopians by road transport from Djibouti. The organization provided accommodation at its transit center during their stay in Djibouti and in Addis Ababa. The returnees were staying at IOM temporary shelter in Djibouti after they were abandoned by smugglers who promised to take them to Yemen for weeks. 

From the total of 131 returnees, 37 were unaccompanied minors (UAM). The unaccompanied minors were transported to the IOM UAM Center for family tracing and reunification.

There are currently thousands of Ethiopians who needs evacuation assistance from Yemen to Ethiopia. IOM is working with its office in Yemen, Djibouti and Addis Ababa to evacuate the migrants and bring them back to Ethiopia. It is currently uncertain how many Ethiopians are in need of evacuation assistance. IOM is closely working with the Ethiopian Government on the evacuation and relocation of the returnees and post arrival assistance.