29 dead in human smuggling op off the coast of Yemen

[Ina Baxar]

At least 29 dead in smuggling run off Yemen; UNHCR "horrified"
GENEVA, March 26 (UNHCR) – The UN refugee agency said Monday that at least 29 people were confirmed dead and 71 others reported missing after knife-wielding smugglers forced some 450 Somalis and Ethiopians into stormy seas off the coast of Yemen.

"The incident, the latest in a series of tragedies involving smugglers' boats carrying people across the Gulf of Aden from Somalia, occurred last Thursday along a remote stretch of Yemen coastline at Ras-Alkalb," said a UNHCR press release, adding that it brought the total number of dead and missing so far this year in Yemen to 262.

"We are horrified by this latest tragedy," said UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Protection Erika Feller, who has just returned from a five-day mission to Yemen to review the agency's operations in the country. "These brutal smugglers care nothing about the fate of the people they prey upon – both refugees and irregular migrants who are desperate to escape persecution, violence and poverty in the Horn of Africa," she added.

Some of the 293 survivors and other witnesses were cited as saying that four smugglers' boats carrying about 450 passengers approached the coastline early Thursday morning in rough seas and strong currents. The smugglers forced the passengers overboard far from shore.

"Some of the survivors said those who resisted were stabbed and beaten with wooden and steel clubs, then thrown overboard where some were attacked by sharks. Several recovered bodies showed signs of severe mutiliation," the UNHCR press release said.

Survivors also reported that several Ethiopian women and at least one Somali were raped and abused by the smugglers during the voyage from Bosaso in Somalia's Puntland region. Survivors also alleged that some Yemeni security forces confiscated their money once they crossed the Gulf of Aden and reached shore.

The press release said authorities estimated that 74 Ethiopians and 26 Somalis were either dead or missing. Another 57 Ethiopians reportedly reached shore and quickly dispersed, fearing detention by security forces. The remaining 293 survivors were taken to UNHCR's Mayfa'a Reception Centre, where they received medical assistance and other aid.

UNHCR records show that some 26,000 people made the perilous voyage across the Gulf of Aden last year, and that at least 330 died. Another 300 were reported missing and believed dead. Since the beginning of this year, at least 4,400 people have landed on the Yemeni coast and at least 166 people have died. Many remain missing. Two more boats carrying 330 Somalis and Ethiopians arrived in Yemen on Saturday, but no casualties were reported.

The latest tragedy occurred just after Assistant High Commissioner Feller's mission to Yemen with the Director of UNHCR's Middle East and North Africa Bureau, Radhouane Nouicer. During their visit, the two UNHCR officials and Yemeni authorities agreed to strengthen cooperation in addressing the plight of the mixed populations of refugees and irregular migrants arriving in Yemen.

UNHCR, which operates both a reception centre and a refugee camp in Yemen, will appeal for additional funding and international action to help Yemen in dealing with the continuing crisis. This would enable the organisation to implement more projects to improve the living conditions and self sufficiency of the refugees in Yemen.

The refugee agency has offered to support Yemeni authorities in managing the mixed migration flows in a manner that would ensure protection and durable solutions for those who need it, as well as the safe return home for those who do not.

UNHCR and other organisations are also working in the Horn of Africa to encourage authorities to crack down on smuggling and to educate people about the dangers of resorting to smugglers to cross the Gulf of Aden. But Feller said it would take much more international involvement to improve conditions in the regions of origin.

"While we will do all we can to address the humanitarian and protection needs, we fear that until the root causes of poverty, persecution and conflict are addressed, desperate people who have nothing left to lose will continue to risk their lives," she said.

UNHCR news

[Warya_dude]

Raxanweyn and Hawiye are the only ones going to Yemen with Bosaso waterways

Disgusting people they keep begging, When I was there I felt smacking them back to Konfuurta

[Steeler [Crawler2]]

Only a$$holes would do that - throw people overboard.

[COSTA]

These smugglers deserves walahi to be shot first they take their money then they throw them to the sharks nacalad ha idin ku dhacdo

[zulaika]

[quote="Warya_dude"]Raxanweyn and Hawiye are the only ones going to Yemen with Bosaso waterways

Disgusting people they keep begging, When I was there I felt smacking them back to Konfuurta[/quote]

^^
spoken like a true faqash hayena

[Demure]

Savages.

Why can't Puntland authorities do something about this, don't they supposedly have coast guard..?

[Wiil_Soomaali]

I red in my local newspaper that some of the passengers were stabbed before they were thrown to the sharks .Bad smugglers.This is the result of western "democracy" and capitalsm,which is igniting ,war,poverty, famine and exodus in Africa . Illaahayow ummada badbaadi.

[smooth]

its Ilmo Punaniland looking for there Jaberti Lineage in Yemen

Waryaa Jareer

I see your still hallucinating, claiming it to be others only to make yourself feel better, the fact that the report shows the involvement of Ethiopians clearly shows that this was MJ fleeing to be reunited with there lineage, nevertheless there Tigray lovers

[Steeler [Crawler2]]

"This is the result of western "democracy" and capitalsm,which is igniting ,war,poverty, famine and exodus in Africa . Illaahayow ummada badbaadi."


WTF is wrong with you? Western Democracy made these animals murder people????

African poverty is NOT the fault of the west. Africa HAS ALWAYS been poor. At least over the last millenium.

Capitalism is ISLAMIC!!!! Mohammed was a CAPITALIST!!!

Jesus Christ, don't throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Are you saying you want to have a fascist, socialist state (that's called communism ace).

[Padishah]

The Prophet was a Lasseiz Faire in the tradition explained concisely by Ibn Khaldun and later by Adam Smith. He believed in Equity-based Banking, and not the Debt-based Capitalist farce of today. One very clear substantiative example would be the devaluation (and subsequent inflation) of Fiat Currencies under the Capitalist regime compared to the relatively stable bimetallic currencies of the Prophet's day.

Socialism, Communism and Fascism are all Evil, Un-Islamic, a blight on the face of the Earth, and all Western in origin.

[Spragga Benz]

They stab them them before they throw them overboard for two reasons:

1- the sharks will come before your eyes can blink

2- zero chance of swimming

I don't understand why these people keep stepping into these boats. They must be clueless of what's about to happen to them. And losing money they've been saving for ages too.

[Steeler [Crawler2]]

"The Prophet was a Lasseiz Faire in the tradition explained concisely by Ibn Khaldun and later by Adam Smith. He believed in Equity-based Banking, and not the Debt-based Capitalist farce of today. One very clear substantiative example would be the devaluation (and subsequent inflation) of Fiat Currencies under the Capitalist regime compared to the relatively stable bimetallic currencies of the Prophet's day."

This is all true. Of course, the world, as well as economics, are MUCH more complex than in the day of Mohammed, or even in the days of the founding fathers.

Debt based banking has advantages and disadvantages. Frankly, without interest rates, you can forget a banking system which generates large income producing projects. It is really not reasonable to compare an industrial and service based economy with an aggragrian and very small scale trading economy. Calling todays capitalist system a "farce", given the fact that it is part of a world with long lifespans, better quality of life, and all kinds of techinilogical advances, is not reasonable. You can point out the deificiencies and areas you might want to improve, but the fact is that except for societies which have simply come apart, even in poor countries their quality of life is better than it was 100 years ago.

"Socialism, Communism and Fascism are all Evil, Un-Islamic, a blight on the face of the Earth, and all Western in origin."

Except for fascism, I would agree with you here. Fascism has been around fro Milliuem, just under different names. Many kingdoms were, in reality, fascist government. The extremely nationlist, fascist government of Hitlers time was not all that disimilar to the Roman government under the power politics of some of the emporors of Rome. This phenomenon was alive and well even in the early Islamic times. Islamic government has always been essentially fascist, although it probably should not have been.

[Padishah]

No, interest-based banking has not improved life. Technology has.

It would have done so were it encouraged by equity-based finance. Essentially, they provide the capital, in which they buy a stake in the benture, and their returns would be commensurate with their contribution. Thus, they would be actively interesting in the financial success of said venture, because they now have a stake in both the profit AND the loss of said venture. Thus, there is that element of risk which makes equity-based banking (or finance) cautiously optimistic.

Interest-bearing banks couldn't give a toss, just as long as they're sure about your ability to repay in the form of collatoral. Otherwise, sink or float, they've got their capital and profit looked after. All the risk is placed on the borrower, which makes them have to devote time to repaying the loan and less on actually making as much profit as legally possible.

[Steeler [Crawler2]]

"No, interest-based banking has not improved life. Technology has.

It would have done so were it encouraged by equity-based finance."

You can not prove that. It is not possible to prove a negative. Yours is hypothesis. The technology comes from investment - in time, intellect and money. People require financing for technological development. People who provide financing do it, by and large, with the motive of making prophet. The profit of those who provide said financing comes from interest.

"Essentially, they provide the capital, in which they buy a stake in the benture, and their returns would be commensurate with their contribution. Thus, they would be actively interesting in the financial success of said venture, because they now have a stake in both the profit AND the loss of said venture. Thus, there is that element of risk which makes equity-based banking (or finance) cautiously optimistic."

It is one approach. But because the investor has to be much more cautious using this approach, the lending process is going to be much more cautious, which is going to make it much less flexible and many endeavors are going to be deemed too risky. Thus many a great idea won't get off the ground.

"Interest-bearing banks couldn't give a toss, just as long as they're sure about your ability to repay in the form of collatoral. Otherwise, sink or float, they've got their capital and profit looked after. All the risk is placed on the borrower, which makes them have to devote time to repaying the loan and less on actually making as much profit as legally possible."

This is true. But no one compels me to borrow. No one compels me to take the risk. I would RATHER be allowed to sink or swim. The huge advantage in the former approach, is that I pay my loan back, and I am done with the loaning institution. My profits on my good idea line my pocket. That's how Bill Gates made it big.

If YOU, Padishah, think the latter approach is better or more just or whatever, then I recommend YOU support that banking approach with you own time and energy. Equity banking exists now. There are even "Islamic Banks" - non-interest banks. Have at it. MAC is not interested. Nor is MAC interested in tinkering radically with the global economy - guaranteed to totally fock it up.