On 21 May, shelling hit near IOM’s Migrant Response Center (MRC) in Haradh (Northern Yemen), killing five Ethiopian migrants and wounding two others who were in the proximity.  

The attack at 0400hrs, hit an open space approximately 500m away from MRC with a huge impact which caused the death of five Ethiopian migrants, and wounded another two. IOM condemns the attack and urges all parties to respect the integrity of civilian and humanitarian facilities in accordance with International Humanitarian Law. A large number of destitute Ethiopian migrants are still living in the surroundings of the MRC where IOM staff are providing daily humanitarian assistance.

IOM is working on the evacuation of Third Country Nationals from Yemen. So far, IOM has assisted 1,215 TCNs from over 39 countries to leave Yemen through nine flight rotations organized since 12 April: seven of those flights were organized from Sana’a to Khartoum, Sudan, one flight – on 19 April- left Sana’a for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, another flight – on 17 May- left Sana’a to Mogadishu.

IOM is currently working with the Ethiopian Government on providing post arrival assistance to Ethiopian citizens who are evacuated from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia after fleeing conflict in Yemen. The Ethiopian migrants are evacuated from Yemen to Jizan and are flown to Addis Ababa. Since the conflict broke out, 3,177 Ethiopians were evacuated from Yemen. From this, total 2,889 were evacuated through the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 250 were evacuated from Khartum, Sudan and 38 were evacuated from Djibouti. IOM is providing post arrival assistance to the vulnerable Ethiopian returnees in Addis Ababa.

In coordination with IOM Yemen, Ethiopia and the relevant national authorities, the IOM in Djibouti is preparing in-country transit for 565 Ethiopian nationals currently stranded in Haradh, including sea transportation from Hodeyda to Obock, travel documentation, accommodation in IOM’s MRC and on site assistance (food, water, NFIs and medical assistance), as well as onward transportation to the Ethiopian Border