Djibouti hosts over 130,000 migrants, refugees, asylum seekers

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) on Tuesday revealed that the number of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers that are presently residing in Djibouti has surpassed 130,000.

"Djibouti hosts over 30,000 refugees and asylum seekers, of which some 49 per cent of them are children. In addition, over 100,000 migrants, mostly Ethiopian, live in the country, and an additional 300-400 travel through Djibouti on daily basis," UNOCHA said in its latest situation update issued on Tuesday regarding humanitarian situations in the Red Sea nation.

Djibouti, lying on the coast of Red Sea, often used by desperate east African migrants, mainly Ethiopian nationals, as they attempt to cross the dangerous sea route hoping to reach the Middle East via war-torn Yemen. They are mainly aiming at reaching Yemen's northern neighbor Saudi Arabia.

Noting that an estimated 250,000 people have been affected by recent floods triggered by heavy rains in Djibouti, UNOCHA also stressed that an estimated 150,000 people, including migrants and refugees, are of particular concern as they are in need of immediate humanitarian assistance.

The Red Sea nation experienced heavy rains late last month, triggering flash floods and the eventual destruction of various infrastructures, homes and livelihoods across the country.

According to UNOCHA, at least 11 people have been killed by the flash floods, including seven children, in which current forecast also indicated a possibility for more rains to occur, which will further compound the already precarious humanitarian situation.

The most severe impact of the rains occurred in Djibouti city, where an estimated 200,000 people, accounting for approximately 21 percent of Djibouti's total population, have been impacted and 120,000 people require urgent life-saving assistance, it was noted.

"The devastating consequences are most acutely felt by those most vulnerable, including those living in extreme poverty, children, widows, the elderly, disabled and people on the move - refugees, migrants and Internally Displace Persons (IDPs)," the statement read.

SOURCE: Xinhua

 

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