[07/November/2009]

LAHJ, Nov. 07 (Saba) – Yemen's coastguards have seized an African smuggling boat as it entered illegally the territorial waters of Yemen, the military-run sep.net reported on Saturday.

"The smuggling boat was carrying 64 African refuge-seekers, including eight Somalis and 56 Ethiopians and Eritreans", security sources were quoted by the website.

Between January and August this year, some 36,000 Africans reached the shore of Yemen, an increase of 33 percent over the same period last year.

In 2008, 50,091 people arrived in Yemen on smugglers' boats. Some 590 people drowned and 359 others are missing at sea and presumed dead.

Security forces mentioned that the number of African migrants whom entered the country illegally have reached over 1555 including 1315 Ethiopians.

According to Yemen statistics, more than 800,000 Somali refugees are in Yemen. However, the UNHCR estimated the number of the refugees from Somalia at 160,000.

SA/YA