Aden (South24 Center)

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The Yemeni government held a high-level meeting on Monday (April 20) in the capital, Aden, with a delegation from the International Organization for Migration to discuss the repercussions of irregular migration and develop an executive roadmap to reduce its flows, amid the escalation of the issue and its security and humanitarian consequences.

According to the Yemeni Ministry of Interior, the two sides discussed challenges associated with irregular migration and practical mechanisms to address its impact on security and stability.

The meeting approved a package of field measures, including the establishment of primary reception centers for migrants in Aden, as well as a specialized center in the Khor Omira area of Lahj Governorate, aimed at organizing reception and registration processes and providing basic services in line with international standards.

The meeting also discussed activating field points and offices to register migrants immediately upon their arrival along the coasts, including in Amran (Aden), Ras Al-Ara (Lahj), Ahwar and Shuqra (Abyan), and Mayfaa (Shabwa).

Within the framework of institutional infrastructure development, discussions included updating information systems and establishing an integrated national database for migrants, alongside equipping the Immigration and Passport Service with modern technologies to enhance documentation and coordination among relevant authorities.

The meeting emphasized the importance of mobilizing international support to strengthen the capabilities of the Yemeni Coast Guard in search and rescue operations, and to support security agencies in combating smuggling and human trafficking networks.

Furthermore, the meeting highlighted an orientation toward holding a regional conference to address the root causes of the phenomenon and enhance cooperation with neighboring countries and international organizations.

This move comes amid the continued flow of migrants across Yemen’s coasts, with Shabwa Governorate alone receiving 4,546 African migrants by the end of last March, according to official data.

The data showed that the coastal district of Rudum received approximately 4,396 migrants during January and February across 24 waves, the majority of whom were from Ethiopia, with numbers rising from 1,816 migrants in January to 2,580 in February.

On March 13, authorities announced the arrival of 150 migrants at Al-Juwayri coast in Rudum, recording the deaths of nine of them by drowning after a smuggling boat ran aground. Meanwhile, Coast Guard forces later intercepted a boat carrying 120 migrants, including women and children, and detained three smugglers.

These figures reflect the ongoing pressure on local authorities, who face mounting challenges in dealing with flows that exceed their capacities, particularly as the “Eastern Route” toward Yemen is classified as one of the most dangerous migration pathways globally, with hundreds of deaths and disappearances recorded annually.