- Title: At least 30 Africans drown off Yemen after boat capsizes: IOM
- Date: 26th January 2018
- Summary: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (JANUARY 23, 2018) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF UNITED NATIONS BUILDING
- Embargoed: 9th February 2018 16:33
- Keywords: Yemen refugees United Nations drowning International Organization for Migration IOM migrants UNHCR
- Location: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
- Reuters ID: LVA0017ZR2DL3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:At least 30 African refugees and migrants drowned off the coast of Yemen this week in a boat operated by smugglers who are reported to have fired on passengers, the United Nations said on Friday (January 26).
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said in a statement that survivors reported the overcrowded boat packed with at least 101 Ethiopians and 51 Somalis had departed towards Djibouti on Tuesday from Aden's al Buraiqa district.
Migrant drownings between Yemen and the Horn of Africa are recorded much less often than on the route between North Africa and Europe, but IOM spokesman Joel Millman said 87,000 people risked their lives to reach Yemen last year.
Yemen is suffering the world's worst humanitarian crisis, with war, economic collapse and eight million people on the brink of famine. Millman doubted there were large numbers leaving Yemen by boat because most people who were stuck there did not have the means to get away. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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