WORLD BRIEFING / YEMEN
Dozens of Somali migrants sailing across the Gulf of Aden are missing and feared dead after one boat capsized and another ran into trouble in rough seas, the United Nations refugee agency said.
A boat carrying 40 Somalis capsized late Saturday as passengers were disembarking off the coast of Yemen about 50 miles east of Mayfaa, where the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees operates a reception center.
Twenty people made it to shore but the rest are missing, William Spindler told reporters in Geneva.
Eight Somalis are known to have died Sunday when another smuggling boat carrying 23 passengers hit rough seas about 75 miles east of Mayfaa, he said. Thirteen made it to shore and two are missing.
More than 17,000 people from the Horn of Africa have arrived in Yemen since the start of the year, Spindler said. At least 74 have died attempting the crossing this year; 51 are missing.
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