Yemen partakes in UNHCR’s 56th roundtable meeting

Yemen plans to call on the international community to address the ongoing Somali refugee crisis during the UN High Commission for Refugees 56th Roundtable meeting, said Deputy Foreign Minister, Ali Muthana Hassan. 

The Yemeni Foreign Ministry said Thursday it would present a working proposal on the issue of Somali refugees in Yemen at an international 4-day meeting, which will run from October 6-10. As head of the Yemeni delegation for the meeting, Hassan made it clear that Yemen would call on the international community to support Somali reconciliation. 

Yemen’s position is that only a political solution can solve the ongoing problems in Somalia, and that resolving the situation in that country will have a number of positive impacts on the region. It is hoped this would begin the process of restoring order in the country, thereby encouraging Somalis to return to their homeland, and reducing the burden on countries sheltering Somali refugees. A newly stabilized Somalia would also be better able to combat the increasingly common acts of piracy committed by Somalis in the Red Sea.  

At the same time, Yemen is to take part in an international meeting discussing ways of dealing with refugees in prisons. 

Hassan indicated that Yemen's speech during the roundtable discussion would reiterate the importance of the international community taking seriously its humanitarian responsibility towards Somali refugees, and the need to support countries hosting large numbers Somalis. Home to 700,000 refugees, Yemen currently hosts the largest number of displaced Somalis. This number has increased in recent years due to the international food crisis. 

He noted that the delegation would meet with the UN Supreme Commissioner for Refugees in addition to other high ranking officials in the UNHCR, and the heads of delegations from brotherly and friendly countries. 

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