Sana — An international medical humanitarian organisation assisting refugees in the south of Yemen found 60 dead bodies on the beach between Friday and Sunday.

Survivors told Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) that they were coming from the port city of Bosasso in Somalia, fleeing from war and poverty. They made the trip on smugglers' boats in extremely harsh conditions during a two-day trip across the Gulf of Aden.

"While approaching the shore at 8:00 PM, the smugglers noticed some lights on the land. Being afraid to be spotted by the coast guard, they forced us into the sea, even if the water was too deep. Several people did not know how to swim and they drowned," a survivor said.

An eight-months pregnant woman was severely wounded by the boat's propeller after being forced overboard. She suffered four fractures in her leg and was in a critical condition when the MSF team found her.

In another incident, the team discovered a group of Somalis and Ethiopians that had been on the shore for several hours trying to recover after their boat capsized. They said they had to immediately bury 23 of their dead co-passengers.

After being given first aid, food, and relief items on the beach, the refugees were taken to the Ahwar Reception Center, where MSF provides medical assistance and counselling to new arrivals.

Such stories are common on the southern coast of Yemen, according to MSF. More than 32,000 people have attempted the trip since the beginning of 2008, according to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. Somalis and Ethiopians are fleeing from war and extreme poverty.

The conditions of the trip are extremely harsh and the death toll is high. Since the beginning of September, at least 114 people have been found dead in the region of Abyan. The figure does not include dead bodies washed ashore and buried unannounced by fishermen.

"A lot of attention has been paid lately to tackling the issue of piracy in the waters off the Horn of Africa," said MSF Head of Mission in Yemen, Francis Coteur.

"Unfortunately, little attention is paid to the drama of the refugees crossing the same waters in horrific conditions. Much more needs to be done to address this issue."