Sana’a: Sunatimes.com: The number of Somali illegal immigrants who travel to Yemen has increased during the months of February, March and April. However, the number of these illegal immigrants has decreased during the last month of May and the first half of June.

Polls conducted at Yemen’s refugee reception centers have indicated that Somali illegal immigrants who enter Yemen have reduced by 60% for the last two months but those of the Ethiopians have increased.

The main cause of the decrease in the number of Somali illegal immigrants has been cited as being the current seasonal sea closure where most of the immigrants fear for the lives as it is not fit to travel through the sea with in proper means of transport at this time.

However, 40% of the current illegal immigrants are coming from Djibouti and are entering Yemen via the port city of Tais in Dubad province of Yemen. The decrease in the number of the Somali illegal immigrants come at a time the world is marking World Refugee Day.

UNHCR has indicated in its 2009 annual report that Somalia is the Third largest refugee source country after Afghanistan and Iraq in the World.

Source: Bar-kulan