MOGADISHU (Halbeeg News) – Over 5,000 Somalis have returned home thanks travel support by UNHCR and IOM for the two years.
In a statement, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said in cooperation with IOM, UNHCR have helped 5,087 Somali refugees return home from Yemen since 2017.
In the latest departure, a boat carrying 145 Somali refugees left the Port of Aden on Thursday and are expected arrive at the Port of Berbera Friday December 13.
The voluntary returns are part of UNHCR’s Assisted Spontaneous Return (ASR) programme to which IOM is a partner.
UNHCR manages a Return Help Desk (RHD) as part of ASR in Aden, Al Mukalla city in Hadramaut governorate and Kharaz in Lahj governorate. Somali refugees can visit the RHD to receive counselling on ASR and get registered. UNHCR, in collaboration with IOM, supports Somali refugees who wish to return home with documentation, transportation and cash assistance to facilitate the journey.
IOM provides operational support to refugee return movements through chartering a boat, providing medical support upon arrival and transportation assistance to the refugees’ final destinations.
“The ongoing conflict in Yemen has made it difficult for many refugees to cover basic needs for their families and to sustain themselves given the limited work opportunities and economic hardships,” said Martin Manteaw, UNHCR Deputy Representative in Yemen. “Some refugees are now opting to return home and it is important for UNHCR to continue to help those voluntarily wishing to go home to do so in dignity and safety.”
Yemen hosts the world’s second largest Somali refugee population, around 250,000 refugees.
It is a long-standing refugee host nation and the only country in the Arabian Peninsula which is signatory to the Refugee Convention and its protocol.
Discussion about this post