OBJECTIVE
The objective of this report is to consolidate and present the information collected by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) during focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informants interviews (KIIs) in Ali Sabieh and Dikhil in order to inform programmatic interventions to assist vulnerable migrants, especially women and children, in the southern regions of Djibouti. This report brings to light new migration dynamics and needs, while highlighting the obstacles for migrants to access basic services in the targeted areas.
HIGHLIGHTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
• Prepare for changes in the migration dynamics: the impact of drought and conflict in Ethiopia on families’ unity has changed migratory dynamics in unexpected ways. Elderly women who had never migrated, large families and unaccompanied children who followed their peers in their migration journeys, have now become migrants. For many of them, Djibouti is not a transit country but their final destination. To ensure that policies and interventions cater for different types of needs, a migrant presence exercise to quantify and qualify migration is critical.
• Shrinking space for self-reliance and coping mechanisms is heightening humanitarian needs: migrants in the south of Djibouti have unique stories. While the local communities provide the assistance they can to migrants, the drought and worsening economic conditions have reduced the amount of support available, while the number of migrants in need of health care, shelter, water and sanitation, non-food items (NFIs), food protection, and information and referral services is growing.
• Offer information and services for migrants through outreach and mobile approaches: many of the migrants interviewed were unaware of their rights, services available and access modalities. They relied on other migrants for information or did not ask for information at any time. Even when needing medical attention, most migrants interviewed assumed they would not qualify for free care and expressed apprehension and confusion about who to reach out to for assistance. Many migrants did not have access to key information that can ensure their safety and dignity during their migratory journey, and facilitate informed decision-making, such as the definition of refugee status and how to apply for it. The lack of awareness and information appeared to contribute significantly to a sense of hopelessness.
• Promote localization of responses: the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) for the referral of migrants in need in Djibouti was drafted and validated by partners in November 2021. Local civil society organizations (CSOs) should be reinforced in their capacity to respond to the specific needs of vulnerable migrant populations, including a refresher training on the NRM.
• Continue improving assessment capacity, both quantitative and qualitative: an improved assessment capacity will strengthen the ability to inform the response in a complex and dynamic migratory scenario, to ensure relevance of interventions and to conduct forward looking analysis.
Source: International Organization for Migration