covering mixed migration events, trends and data for Djibouti, Eritrea/Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Puntland, Somalia, Somaliland and Yemen.
Djibouti
New Arrivals: During October 2012, an estimated 9,877 persons arrived on Yemen’s shores, of these 71 percent or 7,013 of the migrants arrived from Djibouti. The total arrivals from Djibouti in October 2012 were higher than the previous month, with a 21 percent increase in arrivals between September, 2012 and October, 2012. However, in comparison to migrant departures from Djibouti at the same time last year, there was a 20 per cent decrease in migrants leaving from Djibouti. The major departure points of the migrants from Djibouti, was Obock and different coastal departure points 30-40 km north of Obock. During the month, there were a total of 102 smuggler boats which left Obock and landed on the Red Sea Coast of Yemen, this is a slight rise in boats as compared to August 2012 and September 2012 which had 92 and 95 boats respectively. An average of 220 persons left from Obock to Yemen each day in October. Efforts to curb smuggling: In October, at least four boats carrying migrants were intercepted by the Djiboutian Coast Guards. Migrants and Smugglers on the vessels were arrested and detained and some later released. There were however reports by migrants that they paid a fee of USD 2000 in order to secure their release from Djibouti authorities. Somali migrants continue to report deportation if caught travelling in and around Djibouti without refugee identification cards. Vulnerable migrants Obock: New arrivals continue to face starvation and dehydration as they make their passage to Obock for their onward journey to Yemen. On the 12th and 13th of October, two Ethiopian males are reported to have died of starvation while in Obock.