Ministry says 80 drown as Africans continue to infiltrate into Yemen
The Source: SANA'A/hadharamaut.info/sabanews.net - 03/01/2011
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Nearly 80 African migrants drowned or are feared dead after bad weather caused the deadly sinking of two smuggling boats off Yemen, the Interior Ministry said on Monday.
The two boats capsized in two separate accidents and sites.
One of them carrying 45, most of whom were Ethiopians, went down near the Bab Al-Mandab straits in the Red sea.Only three of those who were onboard, believed to be Somalis, were found alive after they made it to Yemen coast, it said.
The Coast Guard found the bodies of two of the others, while the rest went missing and are feared dead as their fate is still unclear."The second boat with 35-40 African infiltrators onboard including women and children capsized off Ras Al-Arah coast, Lahj, it said, adding that the fate of all passengers is unknown."A large rescue operation is continuing, though hope is fading there are survivors".The accidents come amid continuous infiltration, almost daily, by Africans, fleeing deteriorating situations in African horn countries of Somalia and Ethiopia to Yemen.On their way to the country, migrants defy death crossing the dangerous sea where many drown when boats capsize-- just like these two boats-- or when smugglers force passengers to swim in deep water to reach Yemen
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