The International and Local Organizations’ Impact on Understanding the Challenges of Yemeni Youth Migration

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

Yemeni youth migration has become a central issue facing society; it intertwines economic, social, and political dimensions. This migration not only affects the future of individuals but also impacts the entire society, increasing the challenges of rebuilding the state and achieving stability. In this context, the importance of the intervention of local and international organizations as vital partners in developing sustainable solutions that address the root causes of migration affecting society becomes clear.

Given the numerous challenges facing Yemeni youth, pushing them to seek a better life outside their country, the issue of Yemeni youth migration takes on significant social and humanitarian dimensions. The suffering of Yemeni migrant youth is intertwined with the efforts of international organizations striving to provide support and assistance in this difficult context.

Dr. Nadia Al-Saqqaf, former Minister of Information, and a researcher in political affairs and democratic processes in the Middle East, says that local and international organizations have a major role in highlighting the issue of Yemeni youth migration, especially at this stage, by publishing reports and research that clarify the scale of this migration and its impact. She points out that there is still a lack of sustained focus on this issue compared to other issues, such as humanitarian aid.

She continues: “It requires activating the role of many organizations in creating dialogue platforms and awareness programs that shed light on this issue and provide innovative solutions to the challenges facing young people. Yemeni youth face many challenges that affect their lives.”

Mustafa Nasr, Head of the Center for Economic Studies and Media, believes that the role of international organizations is usually limited in the first stage; it consists of providing asylum and residence, while countries primarily offer educational opportunities to migrant youth. Education is free in many European countries, and foreign country programs play a greater role in guiding migrant youth towards education and other opportunities, and these opportunities are available and supported.

He continues: “On the other hand, problems arise in some systems; they work to direct migrant youth towards specific fields without achieving complete success in the economic environment, and the role of organizations may be secondary in countries with strong and organized institutions; there may not be a great need for external support.”

Dr. Rizq Al-Jabri, Professor of Population Geography at Hadhramaut University, also pointed out that international non-governmental efforts to empower Yemeni migrant youth are important, because the circumstances the country is experiencing, such as conflicts and human rights violations, cause psychological and social problems. This requires interventions from international non-governmental organizations in host countries.

He pointed out that reality may not allow for significant organizational intervention because the laws and systems of some countries restrict the absolute intervention of international organizations. This affects national sovereignty, especially if some politicized international organizations exploit these circumstances.

He stressed that organizations working on youth empowerment, despite their limited scope, provide platforms for expressing their opinions and participating in decision-making. Involving youth in Yemen’s peace plans is an important and pivotal step because young people are the driving force for change and have the ability to play a crucial role in building peace and future development. Despite this, some organizations have worked on youth empowerment, but on a limited scale, by involving youth in the country’s peace plan. This step is important and influential, as young people are influential tools for peacemaking. These efforts must be comprehensive and better coordinated with all relevant parties to ensure that young people have sufficient opportunities to build their capacities and skills, enabling them to play leadership roles in building a sustainable society.

Writer Maysoon Al-Shuja’ pointed out that several local organizations and associations in the diaspora have helped Yemeni migrants, including Mubadara organization, which was established during the COVID-19 crisis and provides various services to Yemeni refugees, including job skills training and psychosocial support. Similarly, Dar Arwiqa, a Yemeni publishing house founded in Cairo in 2010, has expanded its activities and products, with an increasing focus on Yemen, benefiting from the growing presence of Yemeni writers and intellectuals in Egypt.

In a similar vein, Saba Foundation for Culture and Arts was established in Egypt after the conflict erupted. It established a library specializing in Yemeni books in 2015, focusing on supporting Yemeni artists and artisans residing in Egypt. These examples highlight the small number of Yemeni organizations in the community and their limited scope of activity due to restrictions in the Egyptian environment.

In her study, “Dynamics of Diaspora Mobilization,” Maysoon explained that Mubadara organization operates without official permits due to high registration costs but operates under the umbrella of the Sudanese organization Ahlam or the UNHCR. This strategy is widely used by Yemeni associations due to the difficulty of obtaining permits for civil activities.

According to the same study, two significant Yemeni associations were established in 2015: the Yemeni Community Association, which organizes meetings providing social services to Yemeni residents, and the Union of Yemeni Students, headquartered in Istanbul with eight branches in various cities. This association was founded after the conflict erupted and a significant increase in the number of Yemeni students and plays an active role in organizing cultural and social events and providing services to Yemeni students.

Reports and Statistics

Al-Saqqaf says, “There are reports prepared by international and local organizations, such as migration reports from the IOM, UNHCR, and UNDP, on youth migration, but there’s still a need for more programs directly focusing on this phenomenon, especially those linking migration to economic and social development and activities raising awareness about job opportunities and economic empowerment for young people within Yemen, which could be crucial in reducing migration.”

According to UNHCR-Djibouti in January 2019, nearly 11,153 Yemenis migrated between 2015 and 2019 due to the economic and social crisis caused by the conflicts. Most were unable to obtain travel documents and likely traveled by sea illegally to Djibouti, located 30 kilometers from the Yemeni coast.

The IOM also emphasizes its commitment to migrants, governments, and host communities in the Gulf, offering a rights-based, human-centered, and rapid response strategy and approach.

According to the IOM website on its Gulf States strategy for 2021-2024, Hasan Mustafa Abdul-Mun’im, Special Advisor to the Director General for the Gulf Region, stated that the IOM strategy reflects its ongoing commitment to collaboration and comprehensive work in the Gulf States, highlighting the importance of migration issues in those countries.

He noted that the organization has been expanding its presence in this vital region for decades. This strategy outlines the organization’s vision of collaborating with partners to study and assess current migration systems, developing work methodologies focusing on humanitarian aspects, and addressing migration-related challenges, transforming them into new opportunities.

International Migration

According to the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs’ migration data portal, in 2020, over 30 million international migrants lived in the Gulf States (Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and the UAE).

A recent IOM report (May 7, 2024) showed a 650% increase in international remittances, from $128 billion in 2000 to $831 billion in 2022.

The report highlighted that migrant remittances play a bigger role than foreign investment in boosting the GDP of developing countries. With an estimated 281 million international migrants worldwide, the number of people displaced by conflict hit a record high of 117 million by the end of 2022, underscoring the urgent need to address displacement crises.

Challenges of Illegal Migration

Illegal migration of young Yemenis is a huge challenge due to the harsh conditions they face at home. Many young Yemenis seek better living and work opportunities abroad, and some resort to illegal migration as an easier way to achieve this.

International organizations play a vital role in addressing illegal migration issues for young Yemenis by providing food, shelter, clothing, education, and vocational training to increase employment opportunities and improve their living conditions.

Nasr explained that although precise data on the number of Yemenis who migrated legally or illegally during the conflict isn’t available, news of Yemeni deaths during migration journeys is common, with many seemingly occurring on the Russia-Poland border.

Stories of Migrant Suffering

Omar Al-Ahmadi, a 30-year-old Yemeni from Ibb, lived amidst poverty and unemployment. His life was full of challenges and risks, but he refused to give up.

He saw no choice but to leave Ibb and seek opportunities elsewhere, hoping for a better life after selling everything he and his family owned. Omar embarked on a dangerous journey across continents, facing the obstacles of illegal migration and the serious risks involved.

From Seiyun Airport in Hadhramaut, Omar’s arduous journey took him through Egypt, Turkey, and Belarus, aiming for the Netherlands, where he hoped to build a new life away from the pain of conflict and the hell of unemployment.

After three years of deliberation, Omar decided to migrate and hired smugglers, whom he described as only caring about money and disregarding human life. The cost exceeded eight thousand dollars.

He said, “My arduous six-month migration journey involved grueling air and land travel, and long walks on difficult days, full of dangers and challenges that nearly ended my life, as they did for many of my companions who lost their lives on the dangerous and unknown Poland-Russia border.”

In Russia, Omar paid an extra $300, but he got scammed; he wasn’t taken across the Polish border with his buddies as promised. So, he had to fork out the same amount again to ensure he got to safer areas along the border.

During a month-long wait, Omar lost three companions in the most dangerous border areas with Poland. They traversed frozen rivers and dark forests on foot and were pursued by Polish border police.

Aziz Abdul-Jabbar, a young migrant in China, points out that the challenges migrants face in new countries are minor compared to the suffering of Yemenis within Yemen. They struggle with poverty, fear, conflict, lack of opportunities, and high living costs. This leads to a sharp rise in young migrants and Yemeni families crossing borders seeking a better life.

He emphasizes the need for local and international organizations to raise awareness about the dangers of illegal migration, seek safe and legal alternatives for young Yemenis, and promote international cooperation and information sharing to reduce this phenomenon and ensure the safety of those seeking a better life.