Al-Sharafi Discusses with IOM Delegation Addressing Problem of Undocumented Immigration to the South

Mr. Anis Al-Sharafi, the deputy director of the General Directorate of Foreign Affairs (GDFA) of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), received on Monday a delegation from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), which includes the security official, Mr. John Kamau, his deputy, Mr. Zaryab Al-Fares, and the IOM’s official humanitarian protection in the capital, Aden, Mr. Issam Al-Makhzoumi.

The meeting discussed efforts aimed at resolving the problem of influxes of illegal immigration in the governorates of the South and finding mechanisms to repatriate undocumented immigrants to their countries, in which all concerned authorities should properly assume their responsibility for this problem.

During the meeting, Mr. Al-Sharafi conveyed to the IOM delegation concerns about the burdens resulting from the phenomenon of influxes of illegal immigration from the Horn of Africa in light of the difficult political, economic, and living challenges in governorates of the South and the repercussions of this problem on the security file, in addition to the threats it poses to the immigrants themselves and to the host community.

Al-Sharafi pointed out that the recent events that occurred in the capital, Aden, between two factions of illegal immigrants project a crystal clear indication of the depth of the problem, which requires intensifying and unifying efforts to address this problem and promptly taking decisions and measures to delimit the aggravation of the crisis.

Al-Sharafi commended the responsible position and the well-behaved approach of the security services in the capital, Aden, in their intervention to resolve clashes between the ethnic groups of the illegal immigrants as per human rights principles and their keenness to protect them and the host community at the same time.

For his part, Mr. John Kamau praised the cooperation and responsible role played by the security services and local authorities in the capital, Aden, as well as the humanitarian stance that the refugees and immigrants felt from the southern community.

Mr. Kamau affirmed that the IOM conducted awareness-raising campaigns for migrants, urging them to voluntarily return to their country, especially since the economic and humanitarian situation in Yemen cannot bear further burdens. He noted that the organization was able, through its programs, to target about 6,000 migrants since the beginning of this year, and it is working to raise the number to exceed 8,000 undocumented immigrants by the end of the year.

Mr. Kamau stated that there are certain challenges and difficulties facing the organization that prevent the implementation of voluntary return programs, foremost of which is the scarcity of support that the organization receives to implement its programs, noting the importance of concerted efforts by all and following up on proof documents and travel arrangements with the concerned government agencies in each of Aden and the corresponding countries in the Horn of Africa.

The meeting was attended by the Head of the International Organizations Department at GDFA, Dr. Najeeb Qayed, and the office head of the director of GDFA, Mr. Fahim Saif.