Despite conflict, thousands continue to flee to Yemen, says UN refugee agency

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said on Tuesday that despite the conflict in Yemen, thousands of Ethiopians and Somalis continued to make a perilous sea crossing to the country.

More than 92,000 people arrived by boat in Yemen in 2015, one of the highest annual totals in the past decade, the UNHCR said.

With 95 deaths reported, last year was the second deadliest to date, while earlier this month, 36 people died crossing the Horn of Africa, said deputy UN spokesman Farhan Haq at the daily briefing, citing the UNHCR.

Yemen is host to more 266,00 refugees, of which some 250,00 are Somali, according to UNHCR data. Meanwhile, over 168,000 people have fled Yemen to neighboring countries since March.

As conflict continued to rage in the country, Yemenis are bearing the blunt with over 2.5 million people now internally displaced.

"UNHCR today issued another warning on the dangers of the journey," Haq added.

UNHCR spokesperson Adrian Edwards said the overall figures were disturbing.

"People continue to arrive despite unprecedented escalated internal conflict in Yemen and tragically more people continue to lose their lives trying to cross the sea in overcrowded, unseaworthy boats," he told a news briefing in Geneva on Tuesday.

Haq said the UNHCR and its partners have been working with the international community and Somali authorities to improve political, security and socio-economic conditions in the country, as well as actively pursuing durable solutions for refugees, returnees and people who are internally displaced.

"These efforts aim to provide an alternative to Somalis to undertaking perilous sea journeys to Yemen," he added. Enditem