By Bernama,
Sana’a : Foreign Minister Abu Baker al-Qirbi confirmed that Yemen faces exceptional situation since early 1990s because of continuous streaming of refugees from African Horn, saying that Yemen is one of major countries receiving refugees, Yemen News Agency (Saba) reported.
“Yemen has forgiveness policy towards refugee applicants, especially Somalis because of deep links between the two peoples,” said al-Qirbi in the opening ceremony of the Regional Conference on Refugees Protection and International Migration held here on Monday.
He noted that numbers of refugees in Yemen exceed 500,000 distributed across the country while the number of refugees registered in UNHCR is very small.
He asserted on Yemen’s inclusion in the core of Somali problem for solving crises roots and finding out political solution for realising national reconciliation between Somali warring factors, calling for integrating international efforts for protecting refugees and counting challenges resulted in illegal migration.
For his part, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres talked about refuges’ protection and international protection in Aden Gulf, asserting that all issues concerning refuges would be discussed in this conference that includes countries from Africa and GCC in addition to UN and international organisations that would help governments on securing and protecting refugees.
The UN official stressed on necessity of having emigration system and protecting refugees, considering Yemen a basic factor for stability in the region.
Meanwhile charge d,affaires of European Commission Michele Cervone D’urso highlighted Yemen’s role in receiving increasing migration from African Horn, affirming EU’s support to Yemen in this field.
He called on international committee to support and help Yemen in facing refugees’ problem.