Yemeni Interior Ministry announces the arrival of 209 illegal immigrants from the Horn of Africa to Shabwa

The Yemeni Ministry of Interior announced, on Tuesday, the arrival of 209 illegal immigrants from the Horn of Africa region to the coasts of Shabwa Governorate, in the east of the country.

According to the Security Media Center of the Ministry of Interior, "209 illegal immigrants from the Horn of Africa arrived on Monday on the coasts of Radhum District in Shabwa Governorate."

The center quoted the Shabwa Governorate Police as saying, "The illegal immigrants arrived at the coasts of Radhum District on board two boats. The first boat dropped off 45 illegal immigrants on the coast of Gharqa, all of whom were of Ethiopian nationality."

He added: "While the second smuggling boat landed 164 illegal immigrants from the Horn of Africa region on the coast of Kabdah in the same directorate."

She pointed out that procedures are ongoing to gather illegal immigrants who were scattered along the coast upon their arrival to take the necessary measures in such cases.

Earlier, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on Wednesday that the number of refugees and asylum seekers in Yemen reached 60,193 refugees and asylum seekers during the first half of this year, between January and June 2024.

The Commission indicated in a report that Somalis constitute the majority of refugees and asylum seekers, at 64%, followed by Ethiopians (25%), then Syrians (5%), and the rest from Eritrea, Iraq and other countries.