Migration Response Centres (MRCs) East and Horn of Africa01 JANUARY - 30 JUNE 2020
REGIONAL OVERVIEW: JUNE 2020 MRC LOCATIONS & REGISTRATIONS
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Migration Response Centers (MRCs) are situated along key migration routes, where they fill critical gaps by providing direct assistance, including food and temporary shelter, information and service referrals to migrants on the move. Working collaboratively, MRCs bring together key partners to facilitate the identification of migrants in vulnerable situations, and ensure that they receive appropriate, immediate and longer-term support. Seven MRCs are currently operational in the Horn of Africa: Hargeisa and Bosasso since 2009, Djibouti since 2011, Semera and Metema since 2014, and Dire Dawa and Togochale since end of 2019, following a request from the Government of Ethiopia in August 2019. The services provided by each MRC vary based on location and needs.
Outreach Activity in the Context of COVID-19 at the MRC in Bosasso © MRC Bosasso, 2020
Red Sea
Gulf of Aden
Indian Ocean
Nairobi
Mogadishu
Djibouti
Khartoum
Juba
Sana’a
ERITREA
ETHIOPIAETHIOPIA
SOMALIASOMALIA
KENYA
YEMEN
OMAN
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
SUDAN
SOUTHSUDAN
UGANDA
1:30,000,000 N
YEMEN
SNNPR Oromia
Amhara AfarBariWoqooyi
Galbeed
Legend:MRCCountry Capital
DJIBOUTIDJIBOUTI
0 June383 Jan-Jun
Semera
69 June429 Jan-Jun
Hargeisa
173 June1,171 Jan-Jun
0 June664 Jan-Jun
Metema
No. of registrationsin June 2020
No. of registrationsfrom Jan - Jun 4,419
MRC location
ERITREA
Addis Ababa
Asmara
Addis Ababa
Woqooyi Galbeed
Asmara
254
12 June795 Jan-Jun
Obock
Bosasso
Togochale0 June
538 Jan-JunDire Dawa
0 June439 Jan-Jun
A total of 254 migrants were registered at MRCs across the region in June, a 15% increase compared to May. Only three out of seven MRCs recorded registrations during this month. The largest number of migrants were registered in Bosasso (173), followed by Hargeisa (69) and Obock (12). No migrants were registered in Dire Dawa, Metema, Semera and Togochale.
COVID-19 cases are still on the rise in the region, and despite the lifting of some mobility restrictions, borders remained closed and pressure among the stranded populations is mounting. In Djibouti, the MRC in Obock was assisting 49 vunerable migrants by the end of June, all of whom had been stranded for several months. Only 12 new migrants were registered in June, which is similar to the 13 arrivals recorded in May. In the context of COVID-19, the admission of new migrants at the MRC in Obock was reduced to admitting the most vulnerable migrants only, namely women, children and sick migrants. Migrant registrations at the MRC in Hargeisa more than doubled between May (30) and June (69), while registrations at the MRC in Bosasso have remained stable over the past three months. Overall, a total of 69 Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR) requests were submitted by migrants in June, a 21% increase as compared to May. Since AVR services are still suspended amidst the current COVID-19 context, no migrant was returned to Ethiopia, and many continue to wait for AVR assistance, including 200 in Bosasso and 153 in Hargeisa.
The month of June saw an even gender distribution in migrant registrations, with 34% female adults, 34% male adults, 18% male children and 14% female children. A total of 46 registered children visited the MRC in Hargeisa, followed by Bosasso (34) and Obock (2). While all children registered at the MRC in Hargeisa were accompanied, all children tracked in Bosasso and Obock were unaccompanied.
All registered migrants were Ethiopian nationals, most commonly from the Oromia (54%), Amhara (15%), Tigray (10%) and Harari (8%) regions. Most registrees in Bosasso (62%) and Obock (58%), and only 4% of registrees in Hargeisa reported their intention to go to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (46% overall). Only 42% of registrees in Obock and 38% of registrees in Bosasso were planning to head back to their country of origin (28% overall; this represents a 13% increase compared to May). Most migrants reported migrating for economic reasons (67%) or cited educational reasons (28%), while less than 1% reported migrating for health reasons.
Migration Response Centres (MRCs) East and Horn of Africa01 JANUARY - 30 JUNE 2020
MIGRANT JOURNEYS
Country of Departure, MRC and Intended Destination
Family Alone Group & Family
ObockBosasso Hargeisa Metema Semera83+13+1+1+1+1Economic Reasons
Natural Disasters
Family Reunification
Armed Conflict
Education
82%
<1%
1%
1%
14%
Choice of Route
33+32+13+12+9+1+A 32%33%
Recommended by Family/Friend
Route Chosen by Broker
12%13%
Safer than Alternative Routes
Cheaper than Alternative Routes
1%9%
Was Not Part of Planning
Closer to Country of Origin
Most Commonly Reported Reasons for Migration *
Migrant Travel Status
69+29+1+1+A 29%
70%
Vehicle
Various modes of transport used
1% Boat
38+32+29+1+A 32%
38%
Self-organized
Assisted by Broker
29% Mixed (partially self-organized)
Top 4 Areas of Departure
Ethiopia Oromia 54%
Ethiopia Amhara 16%
Ethiopia Tigray 12%Ethiopia SNNP 10%
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1,171 429 664 780 383
Country of Departure MRC Intended Final Destination
Journey Arrangements
Main Mode of Transport
Semera
Dire Dawa
Hargeisa
Bosasso
ObockKingdom of Saudi Arabia
Somalia
Ethiopia
European CountryYemen
Other
1% Involuntary
Yemen
<1% Walking
Group
* Multiple choices allowed.
Other GCC State
Ethiopia
Other
Togochale
Metema
427 538
Dire Dawa
Togochale
Personal Enmity <1%
Migration Response Centres (MRCs) East and Horn of Africa01 JANUARY - 30 JUNE 2020
82+29+11+8+3+1+1MIGRANT PROFILES AND VULNERABILITIES
None SecondaryPrimary Other
1,597 Vulnerable Migrants (36% of total) *
Male
Female2%
Educational Background by Sex
94+6+A 6%
94%
Migrated Previously
Did not Migrate Previously
Previous Migration Attempts
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(1,556)
(2,576)
Most Reported Hardships During the Journey *
migrant registrations 14,405
63% 37%
<6
6-14
15-17
18-29
30-59
60+
4+5+10+74+7+1
1+6+17+69+6+1 64
91
146
1,199
123
48
178
478
1,888
178
8
<6
15-17
6-14
child migrant registrationschild migrant registrations1,005
43%
46%38%
4
45% 1%
* Multiple choices allowed.1 14 migrants preferred not to have their data collected.
ObockBosasso Hargeisa MetemaSemeraDire Dawa
Togochale
240 239
150137 131
73
35
11%
15%
Lack of Basic Services
Abduction/Kidnapping
Withholding of ID Document
Bribes/Extortion
Imprisonment/Detention
84%
3%
8%
10%
26%
Forced Labour/Exploitation
<1%
Physical/Psychological Abuse
<1%
18% Accompanied children
42% Unaccompanied children
38% Migrants reporting health problems
2% Pregnant or lactating women
<1% Elderly migrants
Physically or mentally disabled migrants<1%
Background & Methodology IOM established the MRC Regional Data Collection System, encompassing all MRCs in the Horn of Africa, in July 2016 to advance a standardized approach for collecting data and monitoring responses to mixed migration flows in the region. Data is collected upon migrant registration at the MRCs. Only the information of migrants that consent to their data being captured is collected. IOM does not share individual-level data. The MRC screening form was designed to foster a better understanding of migrant hardships, vulnerabilities and needs, as well as their motivations and intentions. The data collected is able to inform evidence-based policy and programming in the region.
In 2018, IOM revised the MRC Regional Data Collection System to strengthen the provision of relevant and robust data. First, a technical working group was established to revise the MRC screening form to better capture the fluidity of migrants’ movements, their vulnerabilities and the services provided to them at the MRCs. Simultaneously, a regional network of Information Management Assistants was established to facilitate and harmonise data collection activities and further strengthen the MRC Data Collection System. Finally, all focal persons and other relevant MRC staff across the region received training on the MRC data collection procedures.
This factsheet presents key findings, rather than the entire range of information gathered in the MRC questionnaire. Information is collected in the MRCs by trained enumerators upon migrant registration. Findings are triangulated through other IOM data collection systems and secondary sources including news monitoring and humanitarian reports. All data presented in this factsheet should be taken as indicative rather than representative and should not be used to generalise across the region.
Regional Data Hub | RDHEstablished in early 2018, the RDH aims to support evidence-based, strategic and policy-level discussion on migration through a combination of initiatives. Its strategy is structured along four main pillars: strengthening regional primary and secondary data collection and analysis; increasing Information Management capacity across countries; conducting regional research and analysis, and enhancing knowledge-sharing across programmatic and policy-level stakeholders; and providing technical support to key governmental and non-governmental stakeholders to enhance their migration data portfolio in line with regional and global initiatives.
Contact: [email protected]
Migration Response Centres (MRCs) East and Horn of Africa01 JANUARY - 30 JUNE 2020
MIGRANT NEEDS AND SERVICE PROVISION
Medical Support
Phone/Phone Credit
Hygiene Kit
Protection
Emergency Shelter
Psychosocial Support
25+19+14+13+12+9+6+1+1+AServices Provided at MRCs *
Multi-sectoral Needs Reported *13,534
2,7332,1741,5581,4581,3311,005
Service Referrals Provided *119 59+32+3+3+3+2+1Other Services/Organisations
Consular Service
Specialized Medical Service 75
3
Food & Water
Emergency Assistance
Psychosocial Services
Assisted Voluntary Return
Medical Services
Transportation Assistance
Food & Water
11,078
Other
Clothing/Blankets
689 Communication with Family
* Multiple choices allowed.2 Victims of trafficking.
2
Transportation
Assisted Voluntary Return
9238
Counseling/Screening Services
Protection
ObockBosasso Hargeisa Metema Semera
1,253 1,732 3,217 3,526 943 1,286 1,577
Dire Dawa
Togochale
Child Protection Service
32UNHCR or Refugee Agency 3
3
Legal Assitance
Secondary Screening for Potential VoTs2 1