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Sh8.4bn aid appeal launched for stranded Eastern African migrants

 Migrants are seen at the Anti-Illegal Immigration Agency in Tajora shelter center in Tripoli, Libya April 24,2019. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

Twenty-eight international agencies, human development partners and governments have appealed for $84 million (Sh8.4 billion) to assist Eastern African migrants stranded in the Middle East.

The Regional Migrant Response Plan for Horn of Africa and Yemen 2020 seeks to help over 235,000 migrants, 105,000 are stranded in Yemen,  to return home to Eastern Africa. Some 160,000 others are trying to go back home. 

“The RMRP offers a real solution to the ongoing crisis. It will also serve to assist those affected to return to safety and reintegrate back home, whilst supporting government capacity to respond to the situation in a humane way,” Mohammed Abdiker, IOM regional director for East and Horn of Africa, said during the launch of the appeal on Wednesday.

The agencies noted that the Covid-19 pandemic has exposed migrants in the Gulf countries to infections, xenophobia, hunger and exploitation, especially women and children.

“The flow of migrants from the Horn of Africa into Yemen is continuing, and the ability to meet the needs of migrants is very limited. The extremely difficult economic situation in Yemen, the rate of unemployment – for both Yemenis and migrants – the political situation and insecurity are leading to the inhumane treatment and exploitation of migrants,” Mohamed Al-Foqumi, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Yemen in Geneva, said.

The funds will be used to assist returning migrants to reintegrate into their societies and meet the needs of those stranded in Yemen.

The international agencies also plan to develop Covid-19 response plans along the migration route by providing migrants and health workers with essentials, such as quarantine sites and PPEs.

In light of the heightened risk of child trafficking, the funds will also be used to strengthen child protection structures along the route.

Last week, a report by the Awareness Against Human Trafficking revealed that there are 38 survivors of human trafficking in Middle East and Asia who want to return to Kenya.

Twenty of them are in Dubai, 11 in Saudi Arabia, four in India while the rest are in Iraq, Thailand and Bahrain.

The organization also predicted mass deportations of Kenyans by Saudi Arabia as has been the case for Ethiopians in the country and the United Arab Emirates.

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