IOM Director General William Lacy Swing is in Djibouti for meetings
with senior government officials on ways to address the
humanitarian needs of vulnerable migrants, refugees and asylum
seekers from the Horn of Africa on their way to Yemen via the Gulf
of Aden.

Today, he will travel to the port town of Obock, on the northern
shores of the Gulf of Tadjoura, to open the first Japanese-funded
Migration Response Centre in Djibouti.

The centre, which is located on the outskirts of Obock, aims to
provide direct humanitarian assistance and referral services to
migrants, refugees and asylum seekers who are currently living in
miserable conditions in and around Obock.

It will also provide unbiased information on the dangers of
irregular migration across the Gulf of Aden and offer the option of
voluntary return and reintegration for stranded individuals and
families.

"This centre is a milestone in our joint efforts to address the
humanitarian needs of vulnerable individuals, including victims of
trafficking and unaccompanied minors," says Director General Swing.
"It will hopefully prevent more suffering and tragedies at sea by
offering a way out for all those who currently have no one to turn
to but ruthless human smugglers."

Obock and the Gulf of Tadjoura are increasingly used by
smuggling networks that regularly put the lives of thousands of
Ethiopians, Somalis and Eritreans at risk. 

Last year, more than 30,000 people boarded smugglers boats in
the region of Obock, including women and children. Many have
suffered terrible abuse at the hands of smugglers, including
beatings, rape and people being thrown overboard.

Djibouti has a unique set of migration challenges owing to its
location at the crossroads between Europe, Asia and Africa. It is
also a gateway from the Horn of Africa to the Middle East and
although not documented, is increasingly becoming a source and
transit country for movements across the Gulf of Aden and
beyond.

As part of this Japanese-funded initiative, IOM recently trained
60 coastguards from Djibouti, Yemen and Somalia's Puntland to equip
them with the necessary skills to protect and assist particularly
vulnerable groups such as victims of trafficking.

IOM Djibouti also organized in December a meeting for high-level
government officials from Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia and Yemen, to
find ways to jointly address the needs of irregular migrants en
route to Yemen.

For more information, please contact:

Odile Robert

IOM Djibouti

Tel: + 253 72 17 73

E-mail: "mailto:orobert@iom.int">orobert@iom.int