The Migration of Yemeni Youth: Studies vs. Reality

Yasmine Adbulhafeez – Sawt Al-Amal (Voice of Hope)

Yemeni youth emigration is a major challenge in the country’s current difficult circumstances. A huge gap reveals the suffering and turmoil pushing young people to seek better lives abroad.

Numerous reports from international and local organizations address the causes of this emigration. Conflict is a major factor driving migration, drastically increasing migration due to deteriorating security, political instability, economic decline, social conditions, rampant unemployment, worsening living standards, and collapsing infrastructure.

According to the UN and international organizations like the International Organization for Migration (IOM), thousands of Yemeni youths have left the country for neighboring states or Europe via legal and illegal routes, exposing them to risks like arrest or drowning.

Reports and Studies

A 2022 Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies report on Yemeni migration to Djibouti details its growth since 2015. With Yemen’s worsening conflict, Djibouti became a refuge for thousands fleeing war and unrest.

The report cites a 2019 UNHCR report registering 4,916 Yemeni refugees in Djibouti—a number reflecting the ongoing influx. However, the situation requires more coordination and support to ensure sustainable aid given the complex circumstances faced by Yemenis at home and abroad.

An IOM report, “Mixed Migration in Yemen: Current Situation and Policies,” examines Yemeni emigration throughout history to various countries due to economic, political, security, social, commercial, and religious reasons.

It defines mixed migration as the movement of people across international borders where migrants and refugees use the same routes and transport to reach their destination. These flows are sometimes called “mixed migration flows.” If these individuals fail to enter a country legally, they often use human smugglers and embark on perilous journeys by sea or land, risking their lives to survive.

The report reviews estimates showing significant variations in the number of Yemeni migrants, especially to Gulf countries. Between 2013 and 2023, estimates from the UN (ESCWA), and local and international sources, range from 923,253 to 1,800,000.

The report mentions that the Saudi Arabian General Authority for Statistics stated in a 2023 report that the number of Yemeni migrants in Saudi Arabia reached 1.8 million in 2022, according to the Saudi population census. This represents roughly 6% of Yemen’s population and 10% of Saudi Arabia’s total population.

The report also mentions that the Yemeni government presented a vision in the National Population Policy (2001-2025), emphasizing the importance of preparing Yemeni migrants to meet the labor market demands in Gulf countries.

The report further notes that after the 2014 events, Yemen experienced population movement; Yemeni workers emigrated, and many Yemenis, along with their families, sought refuge in several regional countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, and Jordan. However, there are no statistics on the number of those leaving the country. It’s estimated that 177,314 Yemenis left for Saudi Arabia, Oman, Djibouti, Somalia, Ethiopia, and Sudan in 2016.

A report titled “Illegal Immigration to Saudi Arabia: Its Reality, Risks, and Mechanisms for Dealing with It – September 2023” states that 116,930 individuals were apprehended crossing the border into the Kingdom in 2021, with 43% of them being Yemenis.

A Difficult Reality

Abdul-Rahman Al-Shamiri is a prime example of a young Yemeni who dreamed of a bright future in his field, only to be confronted by the harsh realities many face in Yemen. Despite studying media at Al-Hodeidah University and aspiring to be a renowned photographer, he was forced to seek opportunities abroad because he couldn’t find the chance to achieve his dreams at home.

Al-Shamiri found himself in a situation that prevented him from realizing his dreams in his homeland, leaving him with no choice but to travel to Saudi Arabia in search of work, even if it was outside his field. From his perspective, Yemen’s tough economic situation forces young people to accept any available job abroad – not as an ambition in itself, but as a means of providing for themselves and their families.

Al-Shamiri highlights the painful economic reality in Yemen, pointing out that a lucky young man who lands a job might earn no more than 150,000 Yemeni rials. With soaring prices, high living costs, and escalating crises, this salary is insufficient to cover basic necessities. He believes that emigration has become a dream for almost every young Yemeni, as they feel there’s no hope of improving their living conditions at home.

Despite the difficulties young people face abroad, such as working in jobs that don’t match their qualifications or aspirations, Abdul Rahman prefers to face those challenges rather than return to Yemen. He sees almost no opportunities there, believing that staying abroad is a better option despite all the challenges.

Stories of Emigrant Youth

Hayaf Al-Khalidi, a young man from Maqbana district in Taiz Governorate, speaks from within Yemen, explaining why many young people have emigrated. He points to the ongoing conflicts as the main reason behind the current wave of migration. With the ongoing conflict and destruction, young people feel a lack of opportunity and hope at home, whether their motivations are economic, political, or educational.

This situation pushes them to seek a better future in other countries, especially in Europe, hoping to find safety and stability away from violence and poverty.

He explained that the high cost of living and increasing poverty among Yemeni families have become major reasons why young people are seeking a better life for themselves and their families. The ongoing conflict in Yemen has forced many young people to flee by any means necessary; their priority is to save themselves and try to help their families if they can.

He adds, “The lack of security in the country due to sectarian divisions and warring groups has led young people into internal conflicts, where they’ve been exploited in fighting and assassinations. Others have lost their jobs and livelihoods, while many young people have been denied the opportunity to complete their education, making emigration the only option they see to escape this difficult situation.”

Mohammed Ali, a young man from Taiz Governorate, recounts a bitter experience in his emigration to a European country. He describes the journey as fraught with dangers and hardships, detailing how he and a group of young people from diverse backgrounds faced difficult situations, such as hunger and thirst, beatings and persecution, and harsh natural conditions, including frightening forests and raging rivers.

Mohammed confirms that emigration hasn’t been limited to uneducated youth; it includes academics, doctors, engineers, and others who were forced to flee the tragic situation in Yemen after their salaries stopped and they could no longer cope with the difficult economic conditions. Their primary goal is to escape the conflict in Yemen and seek safety and a stable life.

Neutralizing the Economic Sector

Majid Al-Da’ari, an economic journalist, believes the exodus of young Yemenis has drastically increased due to the ongoing crisis. This crisis has created many negative consequences, most notably the persistent conflict that drains the country, disrupts essential services, and has led to the collapse of most institutions and a lack of investment and economic opportunities. The currency’s collapse and scarcity of opportunities for small businesses have also pushed young people to consider emigration in search of a better life and a more stable future.

He explains that these accumulating problems have made Yemen a hostile environment for any job opportunities or investment, as well as reducing opportunities for education, training, and skill development. As a result, many young Yemenis feel that emigration is their only option, whether to find work or to get the education and training no longer available in their homeland. Security and stability have become major factors pushing them towards emigration, as the country lacks these necessities.

He stresses that the best solution to stop the emigration of young Yemenis lies in ending the ongoing conflict and achieving political stability. He also believes that neutralizing the economic sector and reactivating government institutions and oversight bodies will significantly improve the economic and social situation. Finding a comprehensive political solution could be the key step to rebuilding Yemen and creating a stable and attractive environment for young people, thus reducing their motivation to emigrate.