– New data published by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) this week confirms a nearly three-fourths decline in migration from the East and Horn of Africa regions towards Gulf Council Countries during 2020. IOM is meeting here this week with thought-leaders, academic researchers, policy makers and development partners to discuss the immediate and long-term impact of COVID-19 on countries in the IGAD region. This is expected to have severe financial and social impacts on IGAD countries, including increased poverty and a reduction in access to basic services such as healthcare and education. Moreover, COVID-19 border closures, which have left thousands of workers stranded, left many workers from the IGAD countries facing exploitation from people smugglers when trying to get home. The IOM Regional Data Hub for East and Horn of Africa (RDH EHoA) is providing technical support to the organization of this event and presented two IOM contributions.

Source: Ethiopian News February 23, 2021 14:26 UTC