Garowe Online (Garowe)
11 November 2009
The United Nations refugee agency says Djibouti has sent back dozens of Somali asylum seekers back to Somalia's restive capital Mogadishu.
A Dutch naval ship, the Evertsen, handed over the Somalis numbering more than 40 to Djibouti after late last month rescuing them after their boat en route to Yemen developed an engine failure in the middle of the shark-infested waters.
UNHCR said Djiboutian authorities forced the Somalis to board a plane back to the war-torn Somali capital on Tuesday. The migrants include six women and seven children.
"Based on both UNHCR's evaluation of the situation in south Somalia as well as the interviews conducted with these individuals, it is clear that the 40 persons were in need of international protection," the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said in a statement.
The agency added that Djibouti was enjoyed a reputation for being a generous and welcoming host country for refugees, warning that the latest action could tarnish the reputation.
"For years, Djibouti has welcomed and offered protection and relief to thousands of refugees," the agency said. "UNHCR recognizes the legitimate right of a host country in terms of national security. However, UNHCR is concerned by the forced repatriation to Mogadishu of the aforementioned group and the absence of appropriate guarantees for their safety."
Thousands of Somalis fleeing from escalating conflict in their war-torn homeland cross to neighboring Djibouti and Kenya and seek refugee in UN-controlled camps. However, many others take the perilous voyage across Gulf of Aden to reach Yemen.
In this year alone, the UN agency says some 146 would-be migrants have reportedly drowned while 85 are missing at sea after undertaking the voyage across the Gulf of Aden from the Horn of Africa.
Last year, at least 590 people drowned and another 359 were reported missing in the sea after their boats capsized.
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