SOMALI REFUGEES STILL FLOW TO YEMEN

SANA'A, Sep. 04 (Saba) - About 108 Somali refugees have arrive in Thubab coast of Taiz governorate, Interior Ministry has said.

The security authorities in Taiz governorate have sent all the arrival refugees to Kharaz camp in Lahj governorate.

Yemen expected that over 3000 Somalis have arrived in the country last August as a result of deteriorating the security situation in Somalia.

The fighting between Islamic militias and government forces in Somalia makes thousands of Somalis are ready to risk their lives on a rickety boat to be smuggled into Yemen.

Yemen, a gateway for Somalis to the Middle East, recognizes all Somalis as refugees on a "prima facie basis," meaning they are automatically granted the right to stay. But many of those who cross the Gulf of Aden move on to Yemen's neighbours Saudi Arabia and Oman in pursuit of jobs.

The escalating numbers of refugees place increasing strain on Yemen's limited resources and pose more challenges to the government's efforts to balance its obligations under international law with the need to protect the country from illegal entry.

AF/AF