Deputy FM calls on international community for supporting stability

SANA'A, June 20 (Saba)- Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali
Muthana called on international community for supporting stability
and security in Somalia as solution for refugees to back to their
nation.

In a ceremony organized to mark the International Refugees Day -
20th June- in Sana'a, the deputy minister pointed out to the efforts
of President Ali Abdullah Saleh to gather Somali factions in table
of dialogue.

He said that Yemen opened its territories for Somalis, adding that
there are around 750,000 Somalis who received all kinds of services
and assistance.

Muthana made it clear that the Yemeni government agreed with the
UNHCR to open registration centers for Somali refugees, saying that
a center was recently opened in Sana'a and other will be opened in
coming days to insure offering better services for them.

Last week, at least 18 people have drowned after a smuggler's boat
carrying 88 people from Somalia to Yemen capsized in the Gulf of
Aden, the United Nations refugee agency said on Thursday.

The boat left on June 11 and sailed for four days before hitting
strong winds and taking on water, the U.N. High Commissioner for
Refugees said in a statement.

The UNHCR estimated that 146 people have drowned attempting the Gulf
of Aden voyage so far this year and 25,764 have arrived safely in
Yemen.


AH