Media Coverage of the Issues of Yemeni Youth Migration

Hanan Hussein – Sawt Al-Amal (Voice of Hope)

With ongoing conflicts, migration has become a bitter reality for millions worldwide, especially in conflict zones like Yemen. Young people, once full of big dreams and bright hopes, are now driven to seek safety and stability through migration—a perilous journey fraught with dangers, from illegal border crossings to the risk of death at sea.

Amidst the conflict’s fallout, many stories deserve media and social media attention; the stories of those who migrated and tasted the bitterness of life abroad.

Statistics

A policy paper by the International Organization for Migration, titled “Mixed Migration in Yemen; Current Situation and Policies—2023,” revealed that Yemen has been politically unstable since 2011, with conflict erupting in 2015. This conflict created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with reports indicating that roughly 80% of Yemen’s population needs humanitarian assistance. Yemen has also seen massive internal displacement, with people fleeing to neighboring countries and beyond.

The report examined the scale of Yemeni emigration. For example, the Saudi Statistical Authority reported 1.8 million Yemeni migrants in Saudi Arabia in 2023—around 6% of Yemen’s population and 10% of Saudi Arabia’s.

The report stated that no confirmed data exists on the number of Yemenis who left after the 2014 events. However, some sources estimated that 177,314 Yemenis left for Saudi Arabia, Oman, Djibouti, Somalia, Ethiopia, and Sudan in 2016 alone.

In a 2024 report, Al-Quds Al-Arabi newspaper estimated the number of Yemenis abroad (migrants, expatriates, and refugees) to be around four million.

A BBC News Arabic website report titled “Yemenis in Egypt: Hospitality Without Politics—2022” stated that French researcher Marine Bouarière, in her study of Cairo as a “center of Yemeni geopolitical and social geography,” noted that despite a lack of official statistics and large discrepancies in estimates (according to a Yemeni embassy official in Cairo), the Yemeni population in Egypt rose from 100,000 in 2014 to 500,000 by 2019.

The report also mentioned that a source from the Yemeni parliament confirmed that the number of Yemenis residing in Egypt exceeded 800,000 in 2020.

A 2024 report in Raseef22 indicated a significant Yemeni population in the Netherlands, estimated at around 15,000.

Migration: Reality and Ambitions

Jubran Al-Sufi, a media and communications officer at the Human Development Program, says, “Because of Yemen’s dire situation across the board, most young Yemenis strive to get immigration visas to countries with more opportunities. We’ve recently seen a huge rush to apply for visas to America, and I’m one of them. Many friends have been accepted and are now in the US.”

He adds, “I believe the impact of emigration on Yemen is positive, not negative as some think. It reduces unemployment and the population burden on a country that’s been devastated for over a decade, with no jobs and a total collapse in living standards. This fuels fears about the situation continuing to deteriorate.”

Mustafa Nasr, a journalist and director of the Center for Economic Studies and Media, sees youth emigration as a long-term drain on the Yemeni economy. He acknowledges that it can offer opportunities for young people leaving Yemen to find work, study, or other opportunities—the positive side of building skills and the remittances that can benefit Yemen.

Maisa Al-Hammadi, a journalist, discusses emigration’s impact on Yemeni youth: “Emigration has a huge impact on Yemen’s reality. Those who emigrate are Yemen’s best and brightest, the human capital the state spent millions of dollars educating and training. This is a brain drain.”

25-year-old Mohammed Amin represents a success story of challenge and determination amidst life abroad. He moved to a new country with better job opportunities and higher pay, achieving his career goals. However, his journey wasn’t without hardship: homesickness, racism, and pressure on foreign workers were constant challenges. Still, Mohammed remains optimistic, focusing on the positive, emphasizing that success demands adapting to difficulties and persevering through obstacles.

The Role of Media Outlets

Regarding the media’s role in highlighting Yemeni youth emigration, Jubran Sufi says, “The media can raise public awareness—locally and internationally—about the dangers of illegal immigration and the challenges Yemeni youth face, like lack of economic opportunity and insecurity in those countries. Sharing impactful stories and information, and discussing potential solutions to youth problems, are all media responsibilities.”

He adds, “Social media has opened up discussions about all aspects of life. Young people can discuss potential solutions to emigration problems, contributing to public opinion that encourages real-world action.”

Jubran also explains that news reports and articles can highlight the stories of young emigrants, helping to understand the personal and social motivations behind their choices. This can also boost sustainable development through initiatives and support from organizations to find solutions for youth, helping them build better lives and avoid emigration altogether.

Maisa Al-Hammadi says, “Recently, the media has played a major role in highlighting this phenomenon, publishing articles on the challenges and consequences, and showcasing the results of illegal immigration incidents and victims. Investigations have shared victims’ stories and how they were scammed. Newspapers have also presented the government’s vision for solving the migrants’ problems.”

Mustafa Nasr offers a different perspective: “There’s a major shortfall in how different media outlets cover this phenomenon. There’s little interest; while some outlets have touched upon it from time to time, coverage remains insufficient, especially since it’s become a major concern for many Yemeni youth, as emigration is a top priority for them now.”

He continues, “Even without a clear future for emigration, dreams of leaving the country are strong, indicating a sense of stagnation within Yemen. We see many problems in this area, from scams and exploitation to recruitment for potentially illegal activities.”

The Challenges

Yemeni media faces several challenges covering youth emigration. Some are fixable, others not so much.

Jubran Sufi says security is a major hurdle, preventing journalists from covering sensitive topics in volatile areas. He adds that media outlets might have policies restricting certain topics or prioritizing others. There’s also a lack of awareness about the importance of educating people about the pros and cons of emigration.

Al-Sufi adds, “Media outlets face certain policies that might prevent them from covering some topics or might prioritize other issues instead. There might also be a lack of understanding of the importance of raising awareness about migration, clearly outlining its problems and advantages so people can make informed decisions they won’t regret later.”

He continues, “Let’s not forget that media outlets may suffer from a lack of financial and human resources, affecting their coverage. A channel or radio station’s policies might also lead to unbalanced coverage. Plus, language and cultural barriers between journalists and the target migrant communities can prevent impactful media coverage.”

Mustafa Nasr points out, “In the media, this issue isn’t prioritized, maybe because media outlets focus more on political issues than youth and migration matters.”

Journalists Under Fire

“Because migration is so important, the media should play an educational and guidance role,” says Mustafa Nasr. “When young Yemenis consider migrating, they should have complete information about the challenges and opportunities they’ll face, and how to benefit from the move, instead of heading into the unknown.”

He continues, “Regarding the media, journalists are scattered. Journalists are among the groups most affected by displacement, migration, and homelessness, which explains the current media situation.”

He emphasizes that this is mainly due to violations and restrictions on media freedoms, arrests, trials, assaults, and threats against journalists at home. While the situation varies regionally, the common thread is that journalists are always at the forefront of dissent in all parts of Yemen because they can expose sensitive issues like corruption and abuse of power and advocate for citizens’ rights.

The Solutions

Experts suggest recommendations and solutions to ensure better coverage of Yemeni youth migration issues, including creating a safe environment for journalists so they can work freely and independently, supporting independent media, providing financial support for better coverage, helping media outlets reach and cover these migrating youth, and educating young people about sharing their success stories to help others, regardless of the difficulties they faced.

Mustafa Nasr recommends prioritizing migration issues in newsrooms, as it affects a large segment of young people. Importantly, this issue should be addressed within a framework that recognizes the importance of young people finding suitable destinations.

Jubran Al-Sufi adds, “The media can help raise public awareness of the risks of migration, especially illegal migration, and provide advice and guidance to young people. Some platforms have championed the rights of Yemeni migrants, exposing the abuses they’ve suffered at the hands of smuggling networks.”