Food security levels are generally better than a year earlier in East Africa and the Sahel, with most areas facing either IPC phase 1 ‘minimal’ or phase 2 ‘stressed’ conditions, thanks to favorable agro-climatic conditions in 2012.

KEY DEVELOPMENTS

• More than 87 percent of IDPs in southern Yemen have returned to areas of origin since July 2012 as a result of improved security conditions, according to the U.N. However, less than 11 percent of IDPs in northern Yemen have returned home due to protracted insecurity. A lack of basic services is an issue in both northern and southern areas.

Recent changes in Saudi foreign workers legislation and their resumption of fencing the 1,800 km border with Yemen have exacerbated the situation of an already overflowing population of destitute migrants stranded in Haradh, at the border with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Concurrently, the Yemeni military authorities have resumed raids on smugglers’ camps in Haradh and elsewhere; as of 8 April, hundreds of abused and hungry migrants have been released from the hands of smugglers and are now in urgent need of shelter, food, water and health care.

HIGHLIGHTS

• A 7.8 earthquake hit South-Eastern Iran on 16 April, close to the border with Pakistan. The impact was felt in both countries, with 14 people killed, 73 injured and two missing.

• New and worsening humanitarian crises since 2011 have led to a considerable increase in CERF allocations to the MENA region. The largest recipients have been Pakistan, Syria and Yemen.

Recent changes in Saudi foreign workers legislation and their resumption of fencing the 1,800 km border with Yemen have exacerbated the situation of an already overflowing population of destitute migrants stranded in Haradh, at the border with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Concurrently, the Yemeni military authorities have resumed raids on smugglers’ camps in Haradh and elsewhere; as of 8 April, hundreds of abused and hungry migrants have been released from the hands of smugglers and are now in urgent need of shelter, food, water and health care.

Operation Highlights

Somalia is the country generating the third highest number of refugees in the world, after Afghanistan and Iraq.

UNHCR leads protection and emergency relief interventions targeting 700,000 IDPs out of a total IDP population estimated at 1.1 million and over 2,300 refugees in Somalia.

In Somalia, needs will be highest among IDPs and the pastoral destitute when the lean season approaches in October.

Djibouti:

New Arrivals: In February 2013, an estimated 7,648 migrants arrived on Yemen’s shores via Djibouti, a 30% increase from January. The migrants were 24% less than those who landed on the coast of Yemen via Djibouti in February 2012. Migrants journey from Loya Ade, to Tadjoura and onward to Obock. Obock remains the main departure point from Djibouti to Yemen.

Boats: A total of 100 vessels left via the Red Sea for Yemen carrying an average of 76 passengers per trip in the month of February.

KEY DEVELOPMENTS

· The Republic of Yemen Government (RoYG) and representatives of various Yemeni political groups met on March 18 to begin National Dialogue talks. The six-month, U.N.-backed process seeks to address Yemen’s political rifts and facilitate both the creation of a new constitution and successful 2014 elections. Several pro-autonomy and pro-secessionist groups in southern Yemen have refused to participate in the process, while thousands of people continue to protest against the talks in the southern city of Aden.