Yemeni Official Entities and Their Roles in Tackling Youth Migration

Alia Mohammed – Sawt Al-Amal (Voice of Hope)

Since 2015, Yemen has been grappling with multiple political and economic crises resulting from the ongoing conflict and its repercussions. This has led to an unprecedented deterioration in living conditions, triggering significant waves of emigration in search of better opportunities and a life free from conflict and economic hardship.

This highlights the role of official and governmental bodies in managing both legal and illegal emigration from Yemen. Governments need to develop comprehensive plans and strategies that address the root causes of emigration and improve the country’s political, economic, social, health, educational, and security conditions. However, these official bodies face numerous challenges that hinder their effective role in addressing this issue and contributing positively to society.

The Role of Awareness and Guidance

Baleegh Al-Mikhlafi, media advisor at the Yemeni embassy in Cairo, emphasizes that external migration, in all its forms, is a complex global phenomenon affecting many countries. Due to their strategic geographic locations, particularly those near European shores, some countries have become major migration hubs for those seeking better opportunities or escaping crises. This requires significant efforts to curb its spread.

Regarding the roles of relevant bodies such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates and the Ministry of Interior, Al-Mikhlafi says, “Official and governmental bodies play a vital and effective role in providing guidance and awareness, offering advice, warnings, and highlighting the dangers of illegal and irregular migration.”

He added, “We’ve collaborated extensively with the media to raise awareness about migration and its negative societal impacts. Our embassy in Egypt has successfully prevented several cases of irregular migration orchestrated by a Yemeni-owned agency. We informed the Egyptian authorities, who took action against the individual who was recruiting people for illegal migration to Russia and then to Europe. Many of those recruited lost their lives in forests and along the Polish border.”

Al-Mikhlafi stressed that cooperation exists between Yemeni authorities and authorities in destination countries to curb illegal migration and mitigate the risks migrants face. However, the official role remains limited due to the intensity of the conflict and its negative impact on all segments of Yemeni society. Many young people view emigration as a fresh start and some believe that reaching Europe is like reaching paradise.

He also highlighted the importance of differentiating between migrants and refugees. A refugee is officially registered with the UNHCR in transit countries or other countries temporarily before reaching a country granting asylum. A migrant, on the other hand, leaves their home country seeking economic opportunities or to improve their living conditions generally, not due to persecution or violence.

He added, “Egypt hosts numerous Yemeni migrants and refugees. Refugees often lose contact with their embassies, and communication between them and Yemeni embassies is prohibited. UNHCR considers communication with embassies a legal problem as it may affect the legal asylum status of these individuals. In Europe or final destination countries, contact with the Yemeni embassy is completely severed; any contact is considered risky and could negatively affect their asylum applications. UNHCR considers Yemeni refugees who communicate with their embassies in these countries safe from any threats to their lives.”

Al-Mikhlafi told Voice of Hope newspaper that many refugees avoid contacting the Yemeni embassy, yet cases requiring support still reach them. In such cases, the embassy provides direct support through the Red Crescent or its relationships with NGOs working in the refugee sector.

On the other hand, Al-Mikhlafi notes that many Yemeni migrants in different countries have formed groups or associations, providing organizational and supportive programs to better manage their situations.

Challenges and Difficulties

Journalist Faris Al-Yaf’i points to the absence of support from the government and official bodies for migrants, blaming this on the ongoing conflict and lack of political stability, preventing the government from implementing effective plans to address and curb migration.

Al-Yaf’i stresses that the current political and economic situation makes it difficult for Yemeni authorities to provide any real support to migrants.

He adds that while rumors circulate about organizations facilitating migration and assisting migrants, the reality is the opposite; migrating youth receive no support from these organizations. As evidence, he cites the halt of asylum for Yemenis in Germany and the Netherlands, illustrating the failure of these entities to provide necessary aid to Yemeni migrants abroad.

Al-Yaf’i also notes a clear deficiency in support from Yemeni embassies, explaining that the embassies themselves need support due to long-standing unpaid dues, making it impossible for them to offer any assistance to refugees abroad because asylum laws prohibit contact with the home country’s embassy in cases of political or humanitarian asylum. A person fleeing their country is considered in a sensitive situation and is not permitted to communicate with their embassy while applying for asylum.

He emphasizes that refugees currently seek asylum for humanitarian rather than political reasons, with the need for safety and protection increasing due to the difficult conditions in the country.

Al-Yaf’i points out that a significant percentage of youth, up to 95%, migrate through smuggling routes. Many of these young people were in Gulf countries before the 2015 conflict prompted their journey to Europe, as they sought to escape the deteriorating security and economic conditions in their homeland.

In a related context, Baleegh Al-Mikhlafi confirms that official and government bodies face major challenges in confronting the migration phenomenon, noting that these challenges are not limited to Yemen but also affect other countries facing similar problems managing illegal immigration, such as Turkey and Greece.

He adds that the role of official and government bodies has been limited to awareness-raising and guidance, and following up on migrants facing problems, such as those crossing from Belarus to Poland. He also mentions the problem of migrant recruitment in Russia, with numerous victims killed as a result.

Strategies and Plans

Curbing emigration from Yemen requires concerted efforts from the government and official bodies. Private sector strategies are also essential to mitigate Yemeni youth migration. These entities can play a pivotal role in improving economic and social conditions, strengthening political stability, and supporting returning migrants. However, the success of these strategies requires cooperation between all concerned parties, including the government and civil society. This cooperation should focus on strengthening political stability, achieving a comprehensive political settlement to end the conflict in Yemen, which is a key step in reducing migration. Additionally, efforts must be made to improve economic conditions by providing job opportunities for young people and creating new projects by investing capital in sectors such as tourism, technology, and agriculture, as well as encouraging companies to expand their activities to employ more young people.

Furthermore, training and development programs are essential strategies that official bodies should adopt, providing specialized training courses in areas such as information technology and handicrafts. Some private entities should also raise awareness of the dangers of illegal migration by organizing workshops and seminars to explain the social and economic risks of migration. The government can cooperate with international and regional organizations to provide the necessary financial support to migrants and provide training programs that qualify them for suitable jobs.