Desperate Africans seek better life in Aden but find more jeopardy

Tens of thousands of desperately poor African migrants continue to cross into Yemen’s southern port city of Aden. Yemen has long been a transit point for migrants and refugees from East Africa, many of whom are fleeing hunger and violence.

The refugees make the dangerous journey despite Yemen’s civil war that crippled the economy and drove millions of people to the brink of famine.

Many Africans try to cross from Aden into other countries while others take the war-torn city as a permanent place of residence, despite poor living conditions there.

The International Organization for Migration (OIM) reported that an estimated sixteen thousand migrants entered Yemen in 2021 down from thirty-two thousand in 2020.

African migrant woman Shukria Ahmed told A24 News Agency’s reporter Salah that they find nothing to eat or drink, adding that the monthly salaries provided by OIM are delayed for two or three months.

Imad Sinan, Director of the Office of the Ministry of Human Rights, also spoke to A24 and said the increasing numbers of migrants becomes a heavy burden on Yemen’s government and people.