Ethiopia: Ethiopians Make Up Overwhelming Majority of Migrants Arriving in Yemen Amid Worsening Regional Conditions

What the report says

Ethiopian migrants made up the vast majority of arrivals in Yemen in July 2026, according to the International Organization for Migration, which said 91% of the 13,687 people recorded entering the country were Ethiopian nationals. The figures were published in IOM’s Yemen Displacement Tracking Matrix and reported by Addis Standard on 12 August 2026. The total number of arrivals was 3% higher than in June.

The report says migrants used both southern coastal landing points and the Yemen-Oman land border. Abyan province received the largest share of arrivals, followed by Shabwah, Ta'iz and Al Maharah. IOM said a significant minority of those arriving were children and women, while no children under five were recorded among the arrivals during the month.

The same data showed Ethiopian nationals accounted for all 1,649 migrants who left Yemen in July, with most heading toward Djibouti and others traveling to Oman. IOM said the month’s movement occurred amid Yemen’s continuing conflict and wider humanitarian emergency, with more than 22 million people in need of assistance. The agency also cited deteriorating maritime security, severe weather and damage to displacement shelters as factors worsening conditions.

Addis Standard also placed the figures in the broader context of the Eastern Route migration corridor between the Horn of Africa and Yemen. The outlet reported that conflict, insecurity and economic pressure continue to push people toward the route, which aid agencies describe as dangerous and difficult to monitor.