IOM received 1,000 life jackets from the Al Khair Foundation to enhance safe movement of families fleeing the ongoing Yemeni conflict

As the security situation in Yemen intensifies, women, men, children and infants continue to leave the country by air, on foot, in cars, trucks, boats, or by any means of transportation that is available. To Somalia, the journey often involves a long and dangerous journey at sea.

In order to improve their safety at sea, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) will be distributing 1,000 life jackets, which have been donated by the Al Khair Foundation, to boats that shuffle to-and-from Yemen, Berbera in Somaliland and Bossaso in Puntland and actors involved in rescue at sea.

“We hope that this will serve to enhance the safe movement of all the families who are travelling for many hours on boats that have limited numbers of life jackets,??? said IOM’s Chief of Mission, Gerard Waite.

Al-Khair Foundation is a UK-based international NGO providing humanitarian support, international development, emergency aid and disaster relief in some of the world’s most deprived areas.

“Al-Khair Foundation is commited to the persevation of human lives and providing aid for those suffering around the world,??? said AKF’s Chairman Imam Qasim. “We hope that our donation will be instrumental in saving the lives of those forced to flee the Yemeni crisis.???

To date, 61,000 people have arrived in Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan, and Ethiopia from Yemen. Of these, 29,268 individuals (89% Somali returnees, 10% Yemenis, and 1% migrants with other nationalities) fleeing the conflict in Yemen have arrived in Somalia. IOM has assisted 8,128 Somalis with various types of assistance including reception, onward transportation, and healthcare.

For further information about IOM’s emergency response work in Somalia, please contact: Heidrun Salzer, Tel: +252 617 722 436; Email: [email protected]

For more information about Al-Khair Foundation, please contact: Tasneem Abdur-Rashid, Head of Communications and PR: [email protected] or call +44 207 084 7199