Highlights
According to the latest available statistics from IOM and the Djibouti government, 35,562 persons of mixed nationalities have arrived in Djibouti as of 23 April 2016 (since 26 March 2015). Of those, 19,636 persons (56 per cent) are Yemeni nationals, 13,962 (38 per cent) are transiting migrants and 1,964persons (6 per cent) are Djiboutian returnees.
As at 17 May, a total of 899 refugees returned spontaneously home from Obock (Markazi camp and Obock town).
A verification exercise conducted in Markazi from 22 to 25 May indicated that Markazi camp shelters 1,311 refugees. Most Yemeni refugees in Obock town declined to attend the exercise
KEY FIGURES
6,273 Refugees registered since the outbreak of the crisis
2,548 Registered females.
2,324 Registered children and adolescents.
PRIORITIES
Ensure protection of refugees and asylum seekers and provide assistance.
Provide documents to refugees.
Work with the government to ensure access to territory and freedom of movement.
- Continue to develop the infrastructure at Markazi camp.
Continue border monitoring activities.
Update on Achievements
Operational Context and Migration
UNHCR continues to monitor new arrivals at Obock port. Though boats from Yemen continue to arrive, only a small number of Yemenis seek asylum in Djibouti (an average of 25 individuals per week). Rather, they use Djibouti as a transit country before travelling onwards to other countries. At the same time, Yemeni refugees continue to return spontaneously to Yemen though to a much smaller extent, and UNHCR has updated its database based on the returned refugee cards and attestations. According to UNHCR records, 899 Yemeni refugees have been removed from UNHCR Djibouti’s database as of 31 May 2016. UNHCR continues to advise the refugees on the dangers of return. UNHCR has made it clear, and continues to do so, in meetings with partners, diplomats and the Government of Djibouti that UNHCR holds strong to its policy of no-return. The numbers of returns have indeed decreased. In February and March, there were 604 returns, in April 242 returns and in May 53 returns.
US Ambassador to Djibouti, H.E. Mr. Thomas Kelly, visited Markazi camp on 17 May with a delegation of U.S. civil affairs officers based in the neighbouring prefecture of Tadjoura. The Ambassador met with partners on the ground and discussed with them their activities, challenges and future prospects. Accompanying the U.S. Ambassador on his visit to Markazi camp was a delegation from the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) on a monitoring mission to assess the conditions of refugees and services in the camp.
The French NGO, Pompiers d’Urgence Internationale (PUI), were in Djibouti to train health workers, partners and refugees on first aid and emergency response following a donation facilitated by the French Embassy in Djibouti of an ambulance to IOM. The PUI also trained staff and refugees on fire detection and management and donated five fire extinguishers to UNHCR for Markazi camp.
Furthermore, the PUI provided UNHCR with aerial views of Markazi camp using a drone. This will help to identify areas where additional shelters could be added. Following necessary agreements, the ambulance is expected to be shared with refugees of the camp.
The French Ambassador to Djibouti, H.E. Mr. Christophe Guilhou, visited Markazi camp briefly on 23 May on an unofficial visit. He met with UNHCR staff and visited the health facilities in the camp.
A technical team from ECHO visited Markazi camp on 23 May on a monitoring mission to assess the activities of the World Food Programme (WFP), the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and the Danish Refugee Council (DRC). The delegation visited the main infrastructures of the camp and had the opportunity to discuss the services and activities with refugees, partners and UNHCR staff.