Somali Refugees' Inflow Continues; Refugee Day Observed

In continuation of their flow to Yemen, 19 Somali refugees, including 13 women, arrived on Saturday in Taiz's Dhubab coasts.

Security sources mentioned the arriving refugees were gathered and handed over to the Red Crescent Society, who, in their turn, deported them to Kharaz Refugees Camp. The camp also received 63 refugees deployed from Taiz.

Yemen has received over 10,000 Somali refugees since the outset of 2009, including a considerable number of women and children.

Refugee Day Observed

Like many countries around the globe, Yemen celebrated the World Refugee Day observed on June 20.

In a festival organized by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to observe the occasion, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Muthana assured that Yemen is taking care of refugees coming from Somalia or other countries in the Horn of Africa and hinted all refugees are equally treated.

Muthana asked activists within the Somali community in Yemen to urge Somali refugees to register themselves and their newborn babies, stressing this would protect them against administrative or legal measures taken later and it would help UNHCR provide them with better services.

He also expressed his sorrow for the ongoing war in Somalia that has resulted in killing hundred thousands of innocent people and doing away with all state resources and destroying the country's infrastructure as well as helping the spread of poverty and diseases.

He continued that Yemen has warmly received the Somali brothers and it has worked to provide them with all services in an effort to reduce their sufferings. They are free to join Yemeni schools and they are treated as if they were Yemenis.

Muthana maintained that Yemen has exempted Somali refugees and their sons from stay fees and they are allowed to move freely anywhere across Yemen.

Hosting Somalis refugees in Yemen has already added the burdens of the Yemeni people especially when this required more demand on basic services of health, education and job opportunities.

There exist no authentic statistics about the number Somali refugees in Yemen. The official statistics put the number at 800,000; however, this number is doubted by the international organizations interested in refugees' issues.

Source: Yemen Post