ADEN, Yemen, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Interior Ministry said on Sunday that 180 African migrants have arrived on the country's southeastern coast of Shabwa, amid a continued surge in irregular migration to Yemen.
In a statement issued by the ministry's Security Media Center, local police in Shabwa said all 180 migrants are Ethiopian nationals who departed from the Horn of Africa aboard a smuggling vessel operated by four Somali sailors.
Shabwa's local security authorities said they are taking necessary measures to curb the influx of migrants and prevent illegal infiltration, according to the statement.
Meanwhile, latest data released by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) showed that 17,659 migrants entered Yemen in November. The number was 17,685 in October.
According to the IOM's Displacement Tracking Matrix, Djibouti remained the primary departure point, accounting for 67 percent of migrant arrivals, followed by Somalia with 31 percent and Oman with 2 percent.
Despite deteriorating security and humanitarian conditions, Yemen continues to serve as a key transit route for thousands of African migrants attempting to reach Gulf countries, many of whom face severe hardship and exploitation at the hands of smuggling networks.
The IOM estimates that more than 60,000 migrants entered Yemen in 2024, highlighting the persistent scale of irregular migration through the country. ■
