IOM Somalia May 28 - June 18 2014
SITUATION REPORT: IOM SOMALIA RETURNS
HIGHLIGHTS IOM transports newly arrived internally displaced persons (IDPs) to a UN base in Juba
IOM and partners have assisted a total of 7,861 returnees from KSA and Kenya.
Somali nationals forcefully returned from Saudi Arabia receive information from UNMAS staff on mine awareness outside the IOM Reception Centre. © IOM 2014 (Photo: IOM Somalia)
OVERVIEW Forced Returns from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) The total number of forced returnees from KSA has increased cumulatively to 36,104 persons since December 2013. In this reporting period, more than 1,512 migrants have been assisted by IOM and partners, bringing the cumulative number of those assisted to 7,861. Fluidity of current movements between the two countries impairs the estimation of future projections of vulnerable migrants who will need assistance. Forced Returns from Kenya There have been no forced returns from Kenya in this reporting period. In total, 356* Somalis have been returned from Kenya. During this reporting period, for KSA and Kenya, IOM also registered the first confirmed case of a forced *According to official statistics from the Somalia Department of Immigration.
IOM Somalia ▼ Situation Report ▼ May 28 - June 18 2014
No new cases of forced returns from Kenya in the reporting period.
returnee who has been forcefully returned a second time from Saudi Arabia on 4 June. The migrant had initially been forcefully returned in March 2014 and had received reception assistance from IOM. This case of repeated and cyclical migration to KSA and suggests that some migrants may still perceive it beneficial to try to leave Somalia to better their lives in KSA, despite the known dangers. Post-arrival assistance is usually followed by sustainable post-return livelihood and reintegration activities to stem the cyclical migration in the shortmedium term. On this issue of broader reintegration assistance, the current emergency response has a shortfall in funding. Furthermore, there have also been cases of ThirdCountry Nationals that were mistakenly deported from KSA to Somalia primarily because of lack of travel documents. On 15 May, two Ethiopian nationals, out of four in the IOM accommodation, left
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IOM’s care. The other two are still receiving IOM assistance while arrangements are made for their travel documents to be issued. Polio vaccination continues to be carried out for all forced returnees, regardless of age. IOM RESPONSE IOM continues to provide post-arrival assistance to Somali nationals being forcefully returned from KSA and Kenya with the generous support of its partners and donors. The specific sections (for example food and NFIs, health etc.) refer to both KSA and Kenya returnees, while the general section breaks down the data per-country. All the figures below are cumulative. Highlights include: General
Cumulatively, IOM has received and assisted 1,825 women and 5,043 men, as well as 558 girls and 529 boys from KSA. From Kenya, no migrants have been assisted in the reporting period.
Food and non-food items (NFIs)
8,181 individuals have received food, water and biscuits from IOM. More than 887 individuals have received NFI assistance comprising of clothes, blankets, shelter kits and cooking items from IOM. 697 dignity kits, a contribution from UNFPA, have been made available to vulnerable female migrants by IOM as part of this emergency response.
Health Doctors and nurses from the Ministry of Health, in coordination with IOM, continue to provide basic healthcare assistance. To date, 279 males and 242 females have benefitted from consultations, medicines, ante/post-natal care, psychosocial support, health referral assistance and oral polio vaccinations for all age groups. Others (Accommodation and Transport)
449 males and 69 females have received accommodation assistance prior to their onward transport to their place of origin. Usually, the accommodation, provided by IOM, lasts two to four days. IOM provided 313 individuals with onward transport assistance by road while 553 persons received onward transport assistance by air. More than 5,756 persons received key awareness-raising messages on general health, sanitation and unexploded mines, provided by UNMAS and other implementing partners.
OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES AND GAPS 1. Onward travel: At times, local flights change schedules without prior announcement which requires migrants to stay in the accommodation centre for a few days longer than planned. 2. Unresolved case of Third-Country Nationals: IOM continues to coordinate efforts to issue travel documents to the Ethiopian nationals.
IOM Somalia ▼ Situation Report ▼ May 28 - June 18 2014
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AT A GLANCE ONWARD TRAVEL: No. AND DESTINATION BY REGION (FEB—APR 2014)
DAILY BREAKDOWN OF FORCED RETURNS FROM KENYA (2014) Date Number 81 9 April 90 17 April 88 3 May 97 20 May 356 Total
Bakool
6
Banadir
753
Bari
6
Bay
283
Beledweyne
2
Bosasso
12
Djibouti
4
Gado
11
Galgadud
6
Galkayo*
29
Hargheisa*
123
Hiran
112
Jijiga
3
Lower Juba
22
Lower Shabelle
577
Middle Juba
3
Middle Shabelle
242
Mogadishu
300
Apr '14
Mudug
6
Mar '14
Xamar
116
Feb '14
Age breakdown of Somali Nationals from KSA received at the Reception Centre (cumulative)
7%
7%
Men (<18) Women (<18)
23%
Boys (>18)
63%
Girls (>18)
Type of assistance by percentage for KSA Returnees (cumulative)
5%
7%
Health assistance
4% Transport
14%
Accomodation
70%
NFIs and Dignity Kits Food/Water and biscuits
Monthly Returns of Somali Nationals from KSA Dec 2013 - June 2014 (*upto 17th June)
Arrivals Jun '14*
1,766
May '14
4,527 1,725
3,106 6,743
Jan '14
*denotes onward travel by air.
Dec '13
12,494
6,481
MIGRANT STORY
Mustafa, who is 28 years old, left Somalia for KSA two years ago and worked as a casual labourer in a garage. Originally from Wanlaweyne, he was locked up for two weeks in the detention centre in KSA. This is the second time he is being deported. He initially returned to KSA to find work to support his family in Mogadishu. IOM assisted him to contact his family and provided refreshments and onward transportation. Mustafa was relieved to be back home in Somalia, although is still worried about future opportunities and livelihoods.
For more information contact:
Daihei Mochizuki, Response Coordinator, Email: dmochizuki@iom.int, Tel: +254 708 898 198 Ali Abdi, Chief of Mission, IOM Somalia, Email: aabdi@iom.int, Tel: +254 20 292 6000
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