UN voices concern as alarming number of Somalis die while fleeing homeland

[News_Editor]

UN voices concern as alarming number of Somalis die while fleeing homeland

2011-04-16 07:03:48 GMT+7 (ICT)

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations (UN) on Friday voiced alarm at the growing number of deaths in Somalia's Gulf of Aden this year, as 16 people have drowned and another five are missing this week alone – nearly all of them fleeing strife in their homeland.

According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), 89 people are known to have drowned in January and February alone – compared to 15 during all of last year.

The Commissioner also expressed great concern due to the resurgence of violence and inhumane treatment by smugglers of the refugees, asylum-seekers, and migrants that they are transporting, UNHCR spokesperson Andrej Mahecic said.

The agency expressed concern after survivors from the latest incidents said that their cries for help while at sea to a nearby foreign naval ship and cargo vessel went unheeded, as the first three months of the year have marked a deadly record.

"This is disturbing," Mahecic stated. "UNHCR appeals to all shipmasters in the Gulf of Aden to uphold the long-standing tradition of rescue at sea and helping vessels in distress."

On Wednesday a boat carrying 45 Somali refugees sank some two kilometers off the Yemeni shores near the town of Murais, more than 300 kilometers east of Aden, after it reportedly ran into heavy winds and rough seas. Fifteen of those on board are known to have drowned and five are missing, while 25 people managed to swim to shore.

The vessel approached the Yemeni coast on Tuesday afternoon but the smugglers, fearing interception by the Yemeni Coast Guard, refused to approach the shore, Mahecic said.

"The passengers, who by then were dehydrated and hungry, began crying and shouting. Despite their appeals, the crew decided to stay out at sea til the morning. The tattered vessel ultimately sank in rough seas."

According to the survivors, they saw a cargo vessel and foreign naval ship during the voyage. Although the naval ship approached their boat, it ignored their cries for help.

In a separate incident, another boat that left from Somalia carrying 79 passengers – 77 Ethiopians and two Somalis – arrived off the coast of Yemen near Al-Kaida in Shabwa governorate on Wednesday at around 6 a.m. local time.

Mahecic said that the smugglers dropped anchor in a deep area and forced the passengers into the sea. An Ethiopian man succumbed to the heavy waves and drowned.

According to UNHCR, more than 6,500 Somalis and 18,800 Ethiopians have arrived in Yemen by boat so far this year.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-04-16

[Robby nz]

The UN could try being concerned about the deaths their bombing in Libya is causing.

[geriatrickid]

The UN could try being concerned about the deaths their bombing in Libya is causing.

Does this mean that you have no concern or compassion for the Somalis dying off the shores of Arab countries that could render assistance?

[Steely Dan]

The UN could try being concerned about the deaths their bombing in Libya is causing.

Does this mean that you have no concern or compassion for the Somalis dying off the shores of Arab countries that could render assistance?

Dead Arabs are only newsworthy if killed by the Israelis or the U.S, or at a stretch other Arabs who be linked to the interests of western Countries. But really if you have to flee to Yemen it just shows how desperate a situation you are facing.

[powderpuff]

Obama should go in there soon to protect civilians.

[powderpuff]

The UN could try being concerned about the deaths their bombing in Libya is causing.

The UN or "moonies" as I like to call them aren't bombing anything. It's NATO who is bombing & "regime change".

[geriatrickid]

The UN could try being concerned about the deaths their bombing in Libya is causing.

The UN or "moonies" as I like to call them aren't bombing anything. It's NATO who is bombing & "regime change".

Not an accurate statement. There are 15 countries providing publicly disclosed resources;

Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Qatar, Romania, Spain, Turkey, UAE, United Kingdom and the USA.

Several arab countries are providing support for the rebels; For example, Egypt is providing training and materiel and Morocco is providing intelligence.

Although NATO is identified with the process, it is actually France and the UK that are driving the campaign. If one looks at the actual foreign forces engaged in combat operations there are only 4; Canada, France, UK and USA. The USA was dragged into this by France and the UK. It has to repay the political debt of support the UK has given. The Gulf states also pressured the USA to participate as a check on the Anglo-French alliance. Canada is in as a favour to the other 3 and because the UN and several arab countries asked it to participate. As well, the US military is somewhat integrated with Canadian forces due to their long standing partnership in Afghanistan and North American defense structure. (As a point of trivia, on the day of 9-11 it was a Canadian military officer that took charge of the defense of the USA skies because a Canadian was in charge at NORAD.) The countries with a vested stake in settling the Libya crisis quickly are the Europeans that depend upon Libyan oil and the regional Arab countries that were targeted by Libya at one time or another and fear retaliation.

[Robby nz]

However it is all done under a UN resolution to impose a no fly zone over Lybia.

The UN and NATO are now being questioned by Russia who says the no fly zone resolution (which they voted in favour of) never gave permission for attacking Libya in an attempt to bring about Govt change.

But this thread is supposed to be about Somalia so........

No Gerry I have no compassion for the people of a country who allow, if not condone piracy. as a business.

I wonder if the UN is also concerned about the number of deaths from that piracy?

[geriatrickid]

However it is all done under a UN resolution to impose a no fly zone over Lybia.

The UN and NATO are now being questioned by Russia who says the no fly zone resolution (which they voted in favour of) never gave permission for attacking Libya in an attempt to bring about Govt change.

But this thread is supposed to be about Somalia so........

No Gerry I have no compassion for the people of a country who allow, if not condone piracy. as a business.

I wonder if the UN is also concerned about the number of deaths from that piracy?

Only if Russian, Indian and Chinese merchant marine assets are attacked. If it is anyone else, its ok.

[endure]

But this thread is supposed to be about Somalia so........

No Gerry I have no compassion for the people of a country who allow, if not condone piracy. as a business.

So you condemn the whole population of a country because some of their citizens are criminals? The people of Somalia neither condone nor allow piracy. They have no control over the matter. There hasn't been a functioning government there for 20 years.