Saudi humanitarian agency repatriates 143 Somalis from Yemen

Saudi humanitarian agency repatriates 143 Somalis from Yemen
Saudi humanitarian agency repatriates 143 Somalis from Yemen

The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) repatriated 143 Somalis stranded in Yemen this week, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

Last year,KSRelief repatriated as many as 2,000 Somali refugees from Yemen. The VoluntaryRepatriation Program was initiated by KSRelief in collaboration with theInternational Organization for Migration (IOM), whose spokesman Joel Millmansaid 46 men, 41 women, 26 boys and 30 girls set off by boat from Aden on Sept.30 and arrived at the Somali port of Berbera.

Theirrelocation was possible thanks to funding from KSRelief, which is working inpartnership with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to facilitatethe movement of people returning from Yemen, Millman added.

Hesaid since KSRelief started funding the project in November 2018, 1,505 Somalireturnees have been assisted.

Headded that the project aims to facilitate safe and dignified movements fromYemen, and to contribute to reintegrating returnees in a sustainable way.

UNHCRspokesman Babar Baloch said Somalis comprise 90 percent of refugees in Yemen,or some 250,000 people.

Meanwhile,KSRelief transported 10 injured Yemenis to Saudi Arabia to receive medical careat the center's expense. Yemeni officials commended KSRelief's efforts andconcern for the wounded.

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