Refugees Crisis in Yemen: More than 700 Thousand Somali Refugees

More than 700 thousand Somali refugees in addition to thousands of other African nationalities in Yemen most of which are not registered with the Office of High Commissioner for Refugees, said the Deputy Foreign Minister and Chairman of the National Commission for Refugees, Muthana Ali Hassan.


According to UNHCR, 50,091 African refugees arrived in Yemen in 2008 (70 percent more than the 2007 figure); at least 590 drowned and another 359 went missing at sea. "We are concerned that this increase might continue through 2009. In 2008, more than 50,000 people crossed the Gulf of Aden to Yemen, straining UNHCR's capacity and resources," UNHCR said.

A Yemeni delegation headed by Mohammed Hussein Al-Shami, head of Africa Department at the Foreign Ministry attended the 44th Permanent committee meetings session held in Geneva during 2-6 March.

In this regard, the Executive Director of the Middle East and North Africa Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 'UNHCR', Rudwan Noiaser, appealed to the international community to ease Yemen burden caused by the influx of refugees from the Horn of Africa, particularly Somalia. Noiaser said that the speech of Yemen is congruent with the trends and the objectives of the High Commissioner Office.

He added that a new registration mechanism for refugees is needed in collaboration with the National Commission for Refugees in Yemen, emphasizing that the Office will take into account all Yemeni observations and suggestions regarding this complex situation.

The head of Africa Department at the Foreign Ministry, Mohammed Al-Shami confirmed Yemen's approval for the efforts of the High Commissioner in the area providing financial and administrative reforms concerning improving the refugees' situation, resettlement in a third country and voluntary return to areas where they could enjoy more secure and stable life.

Officials in Yemen are concerned about the big challenges facing Yemen, which has become for the time being at the economic, social and cultural levels caused by the continuing flow of refugees pointing out that the issue of Somali refugees lies mainly in a political solution to the Somali crisis.

Source: YemenPost