Number of African immigrants in Yemen increasing, says UNHCR [Archives:2008/1135/Local News]
March 6 2008
By: Hamed Thabet
SHABWA, March 5 ) The number of illegal immigrants who entered Yemen as refugees from the Horn of Africa has nearly tripled, increasing to 8,731 in the first two months of 2008 compared to the same period last year, said Ron Redmond, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesperson in Geneva. He noted that a total of 182 refugee-carrying boats arrived on Yemen's coast so far this year. The majority of the refugees entering Yemen are from Somalia.
The increase in arrivals this year was partly due to the use of new smuggling routes. “By the end of last year
