Cradle of Hope: Rehana’s Path to Healing from the Grip of Exploitation

In 2023, Yemen saw a significant arrival of women and girls from the Horn of Africa, totalling 21,130, including 3,773 girls. Many of these migrants endured severe forms of sexual violence, abuse, and exploitation, inflicted by ruthless traffickers and smugglers. Rehana* was one of those who faced these horrors firsthand.

Aden, Yemen – Ever since she was little, Rehana’s family remained tightly knit regardless of the hardships they endured in Ethiopia. Her father’s long struggle with a mental disorder had left her mother with the responsibility of raising Rehana on her own. Although she tried every possible way to secure a better life for her daughter, their circumstances grew increasingly dire. Eventually, the family’s situation became so bleak that they could no longer meet even their basic needs.

At only 15 years old, brimming with energy and determination, Rehana decided it was time to repay her mother’s kindness. She decided to embark on the migration route from the Horn of Africa to Yemen, one of the most perilous routes globally, where around ten percent of arrivals are children, many of whom travel alone.

Fascinated by the stories circulating in her village about the money migrants could earn in the Gulf countries, Rehana was determined to follow in their footsteps. Seeing a glimmer of hope in Rehana’s ambition, her mother gathered the little money she had left and prepared her for the journey ahead.

With that in mind, Rehana set out for Yemen, a country she knew very little about. Her friends had told her that the journey through Yemen would be smooth and that she would reach her destination within a few days. However, they hadn’t warned her about the smugglers, who often lure young migrants with false promises of an easy journey while concealing the severe risks involved.

“Most of us don’t have televisions at home to follow the news,” Rehana explains. “None of us would take the risk if we knew the reality.”

Rehana’s first shock came when her presumed two-day journey stretched into two weeks. Despite having paid a significant amount for the trip, the smugglers provided minimal food, barely enough for survival. Weak and emaciated, Rehana had to walk for days under the scorching sun to reach the Yemeni shores.

When she finally arrived at her intended destination in Al Bayda Governorate, she encountered an even harsher reality. The smugglers immediately detained and locked them in overcrowded, unsanitary yards.

It was then that the grim reality of their situation became apparent. Only those who could afford to pay the traffickers more money were given scant food and spared from abuses. For Rehana, whose family couldn't send additional money, the situation was critical.

Amid the relentless suffering, Rehana’s health quickly deteriorated. Now pregnant in her eighth month, she was not spared from abuse until one day when the smugglers reluctantly released her, fearing she might give birth in their detention yard.

Broken and heavily pregnant, Rehana sought refuge with her only contact in Sana’a. As days turned into weeks, she finally held her baby’s frail hand. “The moment I heard my baby’s voice for the first time, all my exhaustion vanished as I needed to protect him from the terrifying world outside,” she recalls.

Soon after the birth, the new mother was forced by circumstances to leave Sana’a in search of a safer place for herself and her baby, setting out once again on the difficult road ahead. Holding her baby, she would sometimes hitch rides with strangers or walk along the road to Aden, begging for food and water to sustain both herself and her newborn.

Once she arrived in Aden, Rehana learned about the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and its support for migrants. The grueling journey and food scarcity had severely impacted her health, leaving both her and her baby in a vulnerable state. At IOM’s Migrants Response Point (MRP) in Aden, for the first time since her journey began, she felt a sense of relief. At the center, the young mother was provided with registration services, as well as much-needed food.

Rehana and her baby were also offered a safe place to stay at IOM’s Community-Based Care (CBC), a facility that provides comprehensive support to vulnerable migrants. This safe environment gave Rehana a renewed sense of hope, allowing her to focus on caring for her baby without the constant worry of finding milk and other necessities. At the CBC, Rehana also received the critical medical attention and care essential for her well-being.

Upon arriving at IOM facilities, many migrants, including Rehana, are often found suffering from injuries, severe dehydration, and evident signs of abuse. Their fragile condition highlights the appalling conditions they have endured. Many are held by smugglers in abysmal conditions, subjected to both physical and sexual violence. Like Rehana, many women are trapped in this violence for months on end.

At the MRP, Rehana also began attending regular sessions of Mental Health and Psychological Support (MHPSS), which were vital in helping her recover emotionally from her harrowing journey. With the compassionate care and guidance provided at the MRP, Rehana gradually began to heal.

IOM’s protection services through the MRPs and CBCs are funded by EU Humanitarian Aid, the United States Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.