Attachments
In February, the political and security situation in Yemen remained tense with the continuation of the conflict in Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel, and escalated tensions in the region. The instability and uncertainty continued to be high between Ansar Allah (AA) forces and the US-led maritime coalition in the Red Sea, as military action from both sides continued in the backdrop of continued peace efforts with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).
As of 16 February, the US designation of AA as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) entity took effect. However, the designation has not yet impacted humanitarian operations throughout the country. AA continued to target vessels in the Red Sea throughout February, including multiple vessels in the Gulf of Aden. Airstrikes also continued to be launched by the US-led coalition against AA targets across several governorates in AA-controlled areas, especially in Al Hodeidah. Furthermore, underwater telecommunication cables in the Red Sea have reportedly been damaged due to the escalated tensions. While there have been no reported impacts on civilians, and the SDGT has had no impact on IOM’s operations, the Organization is closely monitoring movements among populations living near frontlines, who may flee due to fear of escalation. IOM continues to implement activities as planned, providing vital assistance to vulnerable migrants, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and host communities.
In February, IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) recorded 1,744 new migrant arrivals in Yemen. The number of new migrant arrivals follows the trend of recent months, remaining low compared to previous years (10,726 in February 2023; 8,358 in February 2022). This can primarily be attributed to the continuation of the joint military campaign launched in August 2023 to crack down on smuggling activities in Lahj. Yet, while arrivals to Lahj have decreased dramatically since the onset of the campaign, arrivals in Shabwah continue to increase, with all migrant arrivals recorded in February being to Shabwah.