Attachments
SITUATION OVERVIEW
In October, reports of increased activity along frontlines, coupled with the depreciation of the Yemeni Riyal, have threatened millions of already vulnerable households in Yemen struggling to meet their most basic needs.
Throughout the month, multiple reports indicated scattered conflicts between the Internationally Recognized Government (IRG) and the de-facto authority (DFA) forces. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) observed an increase in shelling incidents in Al Haima area of the Tuhayta district. In October, five shelling incidents were recorded, with approximately 25 projectiles landing in IOMmanaged sites, tragically resulting in the death of a 4-year-old child. IOM’s Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) team also noted a minor influx of households from Al Haima arriving to IOM-managed sites in Al Khukhah. In coordination with other humanitarian actors, IOM will continue to monitor the situation closely.
Unfortunately, another shipwreck involving migrants occured on 2 October, involving two boats carrying 310 migrants returning from Yemen to Djibouti. According to reports, smugglers forced migrants off their boats near the coast of Obock, close to Godoria. IOM reported that the tragic incident led to the deaths of 45 migrants, with 111 reported missing.
In light of these ongoing tragedies, UNOCHA’s Acting Under-Secretary-General, Joyce Msuya, addressed the issue during her brief with the United Nations Security Council on 15 October, describing 2024 as “the deadliest year for migrants traversing the Eastern Corridor route.” In October, UNHAS flights between Aden and Ma’rib resumed following the interruption of operations since the end of July. The resumption of this key route is expected to further facilitate the implementation of humanitarian activities in Ma’rib, which hosts one of the largest displacement populations in Yemen.
This month, IOM launched two new interventions to support vulnerable populations in Yemen. As part of the new Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office-funded migrant response project, IOM will expand its ongoing protection and health response to support vulnerable migrants along key migration routes in Yemen. Additionally, in Ma’rib, IOM launched a new intervention funded by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) to improve sanitation throughout the governorate.