The IOM office in Sanaa is launching a comprehensive programme to
help the Government and civil society in Yemen address the
challenges linked to the massive influx of highly vulnerable
migrants and asylum seekers who travel the Gulf of Aden route and
regularly arrive along the Yemeni coast.

The € 2 million programme, which is funded by the European
Union's Instrument for Stability aims to better protect to the
rights of all persons involved in migration, including victims of
trafficking and to combat irregular migration and human
trafficking. 

As part of the programme, IOM will train law enforcement
officials to identify and assist victims of trafficking and other
vulnerable persons amongst migrants arriving in or transiting
through Yemen. The Organization will also help civil society
organizations and Government agencies to support and assist
vulnerable migrants, including victims of trafficking.

IOM will also work with the Yemeni government to set up adequate
administrative, legislative and technical procedures to administer
its land and sea borders.   

Last year, an estimated 74,000 Africans, mainly from Ethiopia
and Somalia, survived the dangerous sea journey across the Gulf of
Aden.  More than 300 are said to have drowned, with many more
suffering beatings and rape at the hands of unscrupulous
smugglers.       

The project will be launched under the Patronage of H.E Dr. Ali
Muthana Hassan Vice Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
with attendance of EC and IOM officials in Yemen on 12 January 2010
at 11:00 am at Movenpick hotel.

For further details on the project activities, please
contact:

Fawzi Al-Zioud

IOM Sanaa

Tel: 00 967 73 49 88 582

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