Somalis risk crossing to flee Islamists - UN

Published Nov 24, 2006

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Geneva - Hundreds of Somalis risking the perilous crossing across the Gulf of Aden to Yemen say they are fleeing the policies of Somalia's increasingly powerful Islamist movement, the UN refugee agency on Friday.

"Over the past eight days, nearly 1 500 Somalis and Ethiopians arrived in 12 smugglers' boats. At least 18 people aboard those boats died and 17 are missing," Ron Redmond, a spokesperson of the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said.

More than 22 000 people have undertaken the voyage so far this year, with at least 335 fatalities and over 150 reported missing, Redmond told journalists.

Most new arrivals told UNHCR teams on the ground that they were from southern and central Somalia, where the Islamists have has been in control since earlier this year.

They said their freedom had been "significantly curtailed," with the Islamic Courts Union ruling that women must stay at home and men serve as a family's sole breadwinner, Redmond added.

"They also cite an increase in inter-tribal and inter-clan conflict and say they fear for their lives," he said.

The UNHCR took 853 of the latest arrivals to its May'fa reception centre, providing them with food, water, medical care and other assistance, the spokesman said. - Sapa-AFP

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