More illegal immigrants making their way to Yemen

In 2008 already Yemen has seen over 20,000 illegal immigrants make their way into the country from Africa. Most have made the illegal journey by way of the Gulf of Aden where they have spent money to have illegal transporters sneak them into the country through a horrific experience. During the first six months of 2007 Yemen had roughly half the number of illegal African immigrants describes the organization Doctors Without Borders. In addition to the 20,000 illegal immigrants who have successfully made the journey from Africa to Yemen another four hundred have not been successful and have been confirmed as either dead or unknown this year.

 

Doctors without borders have commented on the illegal immigration situation between Africa and Yemen "Smugglers operating in the Gulf of Aden are notorious for their brutality and take advantage of the extreme vulnerability of the refugees and migrants. Abuses are the rule not the exception."

 

In an attempt to control the increasing illegal immigration situation Yemen has added more funds to their coastal patrols however this has not deterred the smugglers as they had hoped instead the smugglers have simply changed strategies and now are taking even higher risks to get the illegals into the country. In addition to the higher risk the smugglers now are also simply throwing the immigrants overboard if they are caught in the act.

 

Vice president Abd Rabu Mansour of Yemen commented "Yemen is facing a major dilemma particularly because of the continuous influx of African asylum seekers."

 

http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/