ALBAWABA- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Yemen reported today, Thursday, that a boat carrying 45 African refugees and migrants capsized off the coast of Yemen.
In a post on its Facebook page, the UNHCR said, "Tragic news: a boat carrying 45 refugees and migrants capsized off the Yemeni coasts last night due to strong winds and overloading."
The UNHCR indicated that "only four survivors have been found, highlighting the dangerous journeys between Yemen and Africa." It added that it is working with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to assist the survivors and provide them with the necessary protection.
In June, dozens of migrants drowned after being forcibly removed from a smuggler's boat off the coast of Shabwa province, resulting in the deaths of 49 people and the disappearance of more than 140.
Yemen is considered a major transit point for African migrants from the Horn of Africa heading towards the Gulf countries, with nearly 100,000 migrants arriving in the country since last January.
